How employee wellbeing supports the return to work, from movement to remote workspaces
A return that feels different
As teams start to settle back into routine after a period of uncertainty, it’s not always immediate.
From what we’re seeing across the region, many employees are physically back in the office, but not fully settled. Focus can take longer to return, energy feels uneven, and the structure of the day may feel slightly off.
There’s a gap between being back at work and feeling ready to be there – that’s where most of the adjustment happens.
Routine is rebuilt, not resumed
Most people don’t return to routine all at once; it tends to come back through small, familiar habits:
A coffee before starting the day
A short walk between meetings
Working from somewhere different for a few hours
These aren’t big changes, but they help bring some structure back without forcing it, while giving people space to clear their heads.
For many people, routine starts with movement
From our experience working with organisations across the region, movement is often one of the first things people return to.
Popular activities include:
A gym session
A group class
A quick workout before or after work
It provides a clear starting point, a break in the middle of the day, or a release at the end. It’s something predictable, and something you can control, even when everything else feels slightly off.
We’re also seeing more interest in structured formats like group training and performance-led sessions. They offer focus and energy, along with a sense of community and social interaction that can be a helpful distraction and take people out of their own head for a while.
Remote and “workation” spaces are becoming part of the routine
Alongside movement, where people choose to work from is also changing, with “workation” setups becoming more common across the UAE.
Hotels and hospitality spaces are increasingly positioning themselves as places to work during the day. Remote work lounges, day passes, and longer stays are becoming more common.
For some, working from home no longer feels productive. For others, returning to a full office schedule feels too abrupt.
Spaces that sit somewhere in between, cafés, hotel lounges, quieter environments, offer a change of scene that can feel refreshing without being disruptive. A different setting, a bit of motivation, and a helpful distraction from the usual routine.
What this means for employers
This period is less about getting people back into a fixed structure and more about giving them space to rebuild their own rhythm.
We’re seeing many organisations lean towards a more hybrid approach, rather than a full return to the office. That added flexibility can make it easier for people to rebuild their routine in a way that works day to day, and creates more room to spend time in spaces beyond the office.
Organisations that allow for this tend to see better engagement over time, not through large initiatives, but through small, practical adjustments.
That might mean giving people more flexibility in how they structure their day, recognising the role of movement, or making it easier to step away from the office environment when needed.
It’s less about introducing something new and more about supporting what people are already doing.
A more integrated view of wellbeing
What’s becoming clearer is how closely wellbeing is tied to everyday routine.
It’s shaped by what happens around the day, movement, environment, and the small habits that help people feel more settled.
In practice, the approaches that work best tend to fit into that reality. They don’t sit separately from work; they support how people move through the day.
This also applies to people travelling across the region for work. Moving between countries can still feel slightly unsettled, but maintaining familiar routines, whether that’s a workout, a reset, or time in a familiar type of space, can help bring some consistency.
This is where Privilee can sit within that routine. Not as something people use once, but as something they come back to as part of their week.
With Privilee, a week can include gyms, studios, hotel pools and recovery spaces, along with member rates on dining and spa treatments, across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Singapore:
A gym session near home
A class before or after work
A café between meetings
A weekend reset somewhere outside the usual routine
Individually, these are small, but together they help people ease back into routine in a way that feels manageable.
A moment to rethink the return
As organisations continue to navigate the return to work, this is a useful moment to step back and look at how that transition actually happens – not in theory, but in day-to-day behaviour.
The habits people come back to, the spaces they choose, and the way they rebuild their routine over time all shape how settled they feel.
If you're reviewing how to support your teams in the weeks ahead, our Corporate team would be happy to share insights.
Email us at corporate@privilee.ae to find out more.
