From Mandates to Momentum
Workplace transformation is one of the clearest examples of how complexity can become opportunity. At Brightline, we’ve seen this firsthand through large-scale initiatives such as BMO Capital Markets’ global workplace redesign — a transformation that reshaped both culture and capability.
Now, as return-to-work mandates gain traction across financial services and the public sector, transformation is becoming a necessity — both to manage the shift from remote to in-office work and to attract and retain talent in an environment shaped by these mandates.
In this article, we explore why mandates are accelerating workplace transformation, what risks leaders must manage, and how organizations can turn compliance into momentum.
The New Reality of Work
Return-to-office mandates have redefined what the workplace means. It’s no longer just square footage — it’s a strategic asset that drives culture, productivity, and reputation. Employees expect more than a desk; they want environments that encourage collaboration, focus, and wellbeing.
At the same time, demand for office space is climbing. Altus Group’s Q2 2025 Office Market Update reported that national office availability declined to 16.6%, marking the first sustained tightening since 2020. SRRA Research shows average weekly occupancy now hovers around 77%, peaking at 87% midweek, though Fridays still trail closer to 49%. For organizations that reduced their real estate footprint in recent years, the challenge is sharper: how to meet rising demand for in-person work with spaces that inspire, not frustrate.
The Risks of Standing Still
Mandates may bring people back, but if workplaces feel outdated or disconnected from how people actually work, the consequences are real:
Operational: overcrowding or poor use of limited space.
Cultural: resistance, low morale, disengagement — especially where policies outpace employee expectations. An Angus Reid survey found that as of late 2023, about 20% of Canadians still worked mostly from home, underscoring the tension between preferences and mandates.
Financial: higher costs if leaders scramble reactively rather than planning deliberately.
In short: mandates without transformation risk damaging both performance and trust.
Mandates as a Catalyst for Change
The upside? Mandates create momentum. They give leaders a clear moment to reset vision, policies, and space.
Take BMO, for example. In mid-2025, the bank announced a four-days-per-week office mandate where space allows. That scale of return creates urgency not just for desks, but for environments that sustain collaboration, innovation, and wellbeing.
Smart organizations are using this moment to:
Reimagine space: balancing collaboration zones with areas for deep work.
Modernize technology: enabling hybrid meetings and digital collaboration.
Build resilience: creating adaptable spaces that can flex as needs evolve.
Here, compliance shifts into strategy - mandates become an accelerator for long-overdue improvements
What Leaders Must Do
Our experience shows that transformation succeeds when guided by three essentials:
Governance: set clear decision-making and accountability.
Risk discipline: surface and mitigate adoption, financial, and operational risks early.
People at the center: involve employees in shaping space and adoption so they want to be there, not just because they’re told to.
And above all, measure more than occupancy — track outcomes like collaboration, engagement, and retention. With new office construction at historic lows across major markets, leaders must focus on optimizing existing space, not waiting for fresh supply.
Brightline's Perspective
At Brightline, we see mandates not as burdens but as turning points. With the right governance and risk frameworks, they can drive transformations that strengthen culture, resilience, and long-term performance. Our work with BMO’s global workplace redesign demonstrated that a carefully managed transformation can strengthen culture, improve resilience, and unlock measurable value. Explore the full case study →
Closing
Workplace transformation in the era of return-to-office mandates is about more than desks and floorplans. It’s about vision, resilience, and leadership with integrity. At Brightline, we don’t just advise on transformation — we live it. And what we see is clear: mandates, managed with purpose, can become momentum that carries organizations forward.
Sources
Altus Group, Canadian Office Market Update, Q2 2025
SRRA Research, Office Occupancy Patterns, 2025
Angus Reid Institute, Return to Work Survey, 2023
Reuters, BMO to Require Employees to Return Four Days Per Week, June 2025
