Doane Kelly, the leader of Savills' workforce strategy, said that while understandable in the moment, the idea that companies and organizations can be as productive with a mostly remote workforce is a long-term proclamation being made during a period of clouded vision for the future. 

In a Q&A with Kelly, the expert suggested that business leaders should use a more data-driven approach to the long-term implications of the pandemic as it relates to office usage, noting that although certain types of workers can benefit from the lack of commuting and general social interaction, that isn't the case for everyone. 

"An important insight from this experience is that the old workplace model has gravely mismanaged our work week," Kelly said in a statement. "Heads down" work often is most easily accomplished at home (under the right circumstances) without the burden of commuting and endless office distractions. Collaborative work, ideation and innovation is a "team sport," amplified by the random collisions that co-location facilitates.