9 January, 2026

When you walk into a house party, a pile of shoes by the door feels normal. Now, that same sight is popping up in some offices. Why? Because the habits we picked up during the pandemic are coming back to the office with us. 

After years of working from home, many employees have grown used to comfort. As companies encourage a return to the office, some see letting people bring home rituals along as a way to ease the transition – enter the slippers (or branded sliders for those taking it a step further.) 

Of course this isn’t just about footwear. It nods to the much bigger question: how do we make office life easier and more appealing, and what role does it play in a new world of work?  

For many, remote work isn’t just about comfort. It offers flexibility, autonomy, better work life balance and in some cases improved productivity. At the same time, coming together as a team remains vital for collaboration, creativity and building the sense of shared purpose that drives long term success. The challenge lies in finding ways to bring these benefits together. 

So, what can businesses do? Listening to employees is a good start – and if they tell you they want slippers by all means go for it. But this also requires thinking beyond perks and ping-pong tables. Offer hybrid options, create spaces that feel welcoming, articulate the benefits of coming together and work to ensure time in the office delivers against them and prioritise wellbeing. A softer landing back into office culture could mean better engagement, stronger retention, and happier teams. 

Whether it’s slippers or standing desks, the message is clear: people want workplaces that work for them. 

By Meg Seckel