Law firm leaders are increasingly concerned with lack of engagement. With law firm demand down and office attendance policies in flux, many firms don't believe their workforce is optimally motivated and are struggling with disengagement. (See, "Big Law Leaders Grappling With Attorney Disengagement," in the July 2023 issue of AFP.)

Compliance with return-to-office (RTO) policies is a hallmark of this disengagement — and what we are seeing is that, while the majority of firms have now implemented a RTO policy, 94% do not comply. (See, Forrest Solutions 2023 Return to Office Survey.)

The concern is that psychological investment changes when professionals don't see co-workers in the office, making it easier to develop distance, and disconnect.