Is remote work better than working in an office?

But I think you're making the opposite mistake: you're treating spontaneous interaction as if it automatically produces better collaboration. Sometimes it does, but sometimes those ‘casual conversations’ are interruptions, office politics, or information that never gets documented. Being physically present doesn't guarantee innovation or trust. And remote work doesn't treat employees like isolated output machines. People can build relationships through regular video calls, team chats, virtual brainstorming, mentoring sessions, and occasional in-person meetups. The difference is that remote teams have to be more intentional about it. You also say culture and innovation can't be measured in deliverables. That's fair—but that doesn't mean we should assume the office creates them. If a company's culture depends entirely on people accidentally overhearing each other, then the company hasn't built a very robust culture in the first place. Good organizations can deliberately create opportunities for mentoring and collaboration regardless of location. And there's another side you're overlooking: remote work can actually improve collaboration by giving companies access to people who aren't able or willing to relocate. A company can build a team around talent rather than geography. That's potentially a much bigger advantage than having everyone share the same building. So I'm not claiming remote work is perfect. I'm saying your argument proves that some activities benefit from being together, not that employees need to be in an office every day. If brainstorming or team-building genuinely works better face-to-face, meet in person for those activities. But forcing everyone into an office five days a week just to preserve the possibility of spontaneous interaction isn't necessarily the most effective solution. Better doesn't simply mean cheaper. It means achieving the goals of the organization with the least unnecessary friction. If people can think, collaborate, learn, and build trust remotely, then the office should be an option—not a requirement.