"Back to the office" has become a growing chorus from employers in different industries for a whole host of reasons: higher productivity; greater innovative thinking—two heads, or 50, are better than one; and even an enhanced healthfulness, according to some.

But are employees complying with this push? Placer.ai's Nationwide Office Building Index recently looked at data on usage of 800 office buildings in the first five months of the year. The results in its June 2023 recap don't reflect a roaring rush back to the office. In 60 percent of the buildings, office populations are higher than their pre-pandemic levels, but many workers still aren't returning.

Indeed, in a separate measure that uses different criteria, Kastle Systems reports that office attendance has once again dipped below the 50 percent mark across 10 major U.S. cities in recent weeks, despite the mandates.