REIMAGINING WORKPLACES : WHY EFFORTS FALL SHORT AND HOW TO GET IT RIGHT

Close the gap between workplace aspirations and reality with actionable insights and a proven framework for success.

The workplace is at a crossroads. Despite investments in redesigns, return-to-office mandates and new technologies, employee engagement is declining, collaboration is challenging, and office use continues to lag. Leaders are asking: What will it take to make the workplace work again?

Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report, Reimagining Workplaces: Why Efforts Fall Short—and How to Get It Right, uncovers why traditional strategies fail and how organizations can create workplaces that truly support people and drive performance.

Reimagining Workplaces is a critical part of Reimagining Cities. As cities, real estate owners and communities adjust urban cores to be more optimal—to create more value for everyone—businesses and their spaces remain a critical part of that process.

In this report you’ll learn: 

- Why hybrid and remote models outperform office-first approaches 

- The top barriers holding workplace strategies back—and how to overcome them 

- A new framework: applying Experience-Based Working (EBW) to unlock engagement, collaboration and productivity

What is Experience-Based Working (EBW)? 

Experience-Based Working (EBW) reframes the workplace from a cost to control into an experience to elevate. Unlike efficiency-first models, EBW integrates space, technology, policy and services around people and outcomes. By putting people at the center, EBW helps organizations unlock engagement, collaboration and productivity—delivering measurable value for both employees and the business. 

Workplaces are no longer just places to work—they’re platforms for culture, collaboration and growth. This report builds on our broader thought leadership, including Reimagining Cities and Reimagining Portfolios, and offers a roadmap for organizations ready to rethink their workplace strategy.

This report is prepared by Cushman & Wakefield. To access the original source, please visit "https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/reimagining-workplaces"

Authors

Linsey Smith

Sr. Director, Strategic Consulting

Bryan Berthold

Global Lead Workplace Experience