The Best Workplace Experience Isn’t Flashy. It’s Functional
- Unicorn
- Aug 12
- 5 min read
What makes an office worth the commute?
It’s a question companies are spending a lot of time and money trying to answer as return-to-office expectations increase.
Better food. New collaboration spaces. Fitness centers. Events. Hospitality programs. Upgraded furniture.
Those things can matter.
But new research from CBRE makes a much simpler point:
“Attendance isn't won by adding more; it's lost by missing the basics.”
THIS 👏 Because somewhere along the way, workplace experience became synonymous with adding more.
But a great workplace experience is also about making sure the ordinary parts of someone’s day actually work.
What do employees need from the office?
CBRE’s 2026 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment Survey found that 89% of employers now require employees to be in the office at least three days per week, up from 78% in 2025.
Actual attendance still trails those expectations, averaging 2.9 days compared with an employer target of 3.2 days.
So what gets people there?
People are a big part of it. CBRE found that colleague engagement is the leading driver of office attendance.
But the physical workplace matters too.
More than half of organizations surveyed said a lack of amenities limits office attendance, and 47% rated their current workplace experience as average or below average compared with peers.
The interesting part is what CBRE says next: employees need the basics that allow them to get through their day and do their jobs well.
That shouldn’t be revolutionary.
Workplace experience starts with the basics
Think about an average day at the office.
You need somewhere to work.
You need technology that works.
You need a place to take a call.
You need food or coffee nearby.
And eventually, you need to use the restroom.
These are not the glamorous parts of workplace strategy. But when one of them doesn’t work, you notice immediately.
A beautiful lobby doesn’t make up for a restroom that isn’t stocked.
A great café doesn’t help someone who has to leave the building because they unexpectedly got their period and there are no products available.
An employee event doesn’t undo the frustration of finding a dispenser that is empty, broken or located somewhere inconvenient.
These moments are small until you’re the person experiencing them.
That is workplace experience too.
Are office amenities actually important for return to office?
Yes, but “amenities” shouldn't only mean big-ticket perks.
CBRE found that 53% of respondents identified a lack of amenities as a factor limiting office attendance. The firm also concluded that a functional workplace, alongside colleague presence, helps make the trip to the office worthwhile.
The takeaway isn’t that companies need to add every possible perk.
It’s that employees notice when the workplace makes their day easier, and they notice when it creates unnecessary friction.
Sometimes the highest-impact workplace improvements are remarkably basic.
Restrooms are part of the workplace experience
Restrooms are one of the most-used spaces in virtually every workplace, yet they are often left out of conversations about employee experience.
We think that’s a miss.
Companies already treat toilet paper, soap and hand towels as restroom essentials. Period products belong in that same conversation.
And access matters just as much as availability.
Putting period products somewhere in the building is different from making them available where someone actually needs them.
That’s why UNICORN was designed around period products inside every stall.
No searching for a supply closet.
No walking to another floor.
No asking a coworker.
No leaving the office to buy something.
Just a basic restroom essential, available in the place it is actually used.
Why in-stall period products matter at work
Providing period products at work is often discussed as an employee benefit.
We think it’s better understood as workplace infrastructure.
If an employee unexpectedly gets their period during the workday, access to a product can determine whether they get back to their desk in a few minutes or have to leave the restroom, find a product somewhere else, ask someone for help or leave the building altogether.
Where the product is located matters.
That’s why our approach at UNICORN is simple: wherever there is toilet paper, there should be period products.
Inside the stall.
It isn’t flashy.
It just works.
The best workplace investments don't always look impressive
There will always be a place for thoughtfully designed offices, hospitality programs and amenities that bring people together.
But as companies ask employees to spend more time in the office, there’s an opportunity to look at workplace experience from the ground up.
Not just: What else can we add?
But: What friction can we remove?
Does the technology work?
Can people find a room when they need one?
Are the restrooms clean and stocked?
Can employees access the essentials they may need during the workday?
Those questions aren’t as exciting as unveiling a new office café.
They may be more important.
Sometimes the best workplace experience isn’t flashy.
It’s functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is workplace experience?
Workplace experience is the day-to-day experience employees have while using a workplace, including the physical environment, technology, amenities, services and operational details that help them do their jobs comfortably and effectively.
What makes a good workplace experience?
A good workplace experience reduces friction. Employees should be able to work, collaborate, take breaks and access basic necessities without unnecessary inconvenience. Larger amenities can improve the experience, but fundamental workplace needs should work first.
What office amenities matter most to employees?
The answer varies by workforce and location, but functional basics matter alongside larger amenities. CBRE’s 2026 research identified colleague engagement as a major draw to the office and lack of amenities as one of the leading factors limiting attendance.
Should workplaces provide period products?
Providing period products gives employees access to a basic restroom essential when they need it. For workplaces that choose to provide them, placing products inside individual stalls removes the need for employees to search elsewhere in the building or leave the restroom to find one.
Where should period products be provided in workplace restrooms?
UNICORN recommends providing period products inside each restroom stall, where they are actually needed. In-stall access makes period products more comparable to other restroom essentials such as toilet paper by making them immediately available at the point of need.
How can companies improve workplace experience without a major renovation?
Start by identifying small sources of friction in the employee day. Restroom supplies, technology reliability, meeting-room availability, signage, cleanliness and access to everyday necessities can often be improved without a major capital project.
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