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The modern workplace has undergone enormous change. But are we still designing offices around an outdated idea of what people actually need when they come together?
MillerKnoll’s Ryan Anderson returns to What’s Your Work Fit? to answer our lead question: What should the modern workplace be designed for?
His answer is one word: interaction.
Ryan argues that many activities offices were once designed to support—meetings, training, collaboration and individual work—have migrated to our laptops. That means the workplace needs a different purpose: creating the human interactions, relationships and sense of belonging that are harder to replicate digitally.
We explore what that means for workplace leaders, including why badge swipes reveal little about what actually happens inside an office, how workplaces can foster stronger team connections, and why organizations should think about “reattachment to office” rather than simply Return to Office.
The conversation also turns to AI. Ryan explains why agentic AI could make human connection even more important as people increasingly work alongside intelligent agents—and why organizations should be wary of creating workforces where people feel like isolated freelancers interacting with AI all day.
And Fran Saele brings the discussion to employee health and well-being: could thoughtfully designed workplaces help people feel better during their workday? Ryan describes opportunities ranging from respite and inclusive spaces to childcare and other practical resources—and argues that organizations must communicate the intent behind these investments.
Joining Ryan are What’s Your Work Fit? Executive Producer and Host Dan Smolen and co-hosts Mark Gilbreath, CEO of LiquidSpace, and Fran Saele, Managing Principal of MorteVita.
In this episode:
- What the modern workplace should actually be designed for
- Why interaction is replacing activity as a workplace-design priority
- Why measuring attendance isn’t the same as measuring workplace success
- Return to Office versus “Reattachment to Office”
- Why AI may increase the importance of human connection
- How agentic AI could affect workplace relationships
- The role of mentoring, belonging and relationship-building
- How workplace design can better support employee health and well-being
The bigger question: If we no longer need an office simply to get our work done, what should make the workplace worth going to?
Subscribe to What’s Your Work Fit? wherever you listen to podcasts.