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Collaboration, network-building and incidental learning are key focus areas for Accenture as it navigates balancing employees' flexibility expectations with their leaders' desire for more office time.

Tenielle Colussi, managing director of talent and organisation in ANZ, says Accenture's is currently encouraging, but not mandating, a return to office-based work. At the same time, it's considering "what unleashes potential" in its employees, including the benefits of in-person, office-based interaction.

Internal research shows more than 80% of Accenture's employees don't want to choose between working from home or the office, Colussi says. They also want control: "these are the days I want to come in, in these circumstances".

At the same time, leaders are wanting "a little more" structure and routine – to say to their team, "all of you come in on 'X' day, or 'X' couple of days" – to foster collaboration, culture, and incidental learning. Key questions are how to "at least" bring people back for group meetings, and to achieve at least some incidental learning...