Why Return-To-Office Won’t Solve Your Connection Problem

New research reveals what’s actually driving connection at work.

Most leaders assume it’s their remote employees who feel the most disconnected—so a return-to-office mandate feels like the right move. It’s an easy story to believe, but it’s not what our newest connection research shows. In fact, employees working fully onsite report feeling more disconnected than those working fully remote. If proximity isn’t the answer to a more connected workforce, what is? 

In this session, Jason Lauritsen, CEO of Connected Performance Group and author of Unlocking High Performance, shares findings from the 2026 Human Connection Study. He’ll unpack what’s really driving connection and disconnection across remote and onsite teams, so you leave with a clearer picture of where your engagement and well-being strategy might be falling short—and where to focus first. 

What we’ll cover:

• Why proximity doesn’t equal connection, and what the data shows about remote and onsite teams instead. 
• Why not being able to show up as yourself at work can lead to disconnection. 
• Practical steps you can take to build the connection that drives performance and engagement.