One thing is clear about the (remote) workplace of tomorrow, CEOs agree: 'You don't need to be in the office to be entirely creative'

(Credit: Victor J. Blue—Getty Images)

With employees streaming back into the office, CEOs are still grappling with how to handle return to work. Questions remain over which workers need to be in the office, how to handle compensation, and which productivity metrics can best measure the effectiveness of policies.

Speaking at a breakout session at the Fortune CEO Initiative conference on Tuesday titled "Preparing for the workplace of tomorrow," a room full of CEOs acknowledged the hybrid reality. When asked who is working five days in the office at this point, only one of several dozen held up their hand. And as panelist Joe Preston, the CEO of New Balance, said: Collaboration does not need to happen in person. Still, Preston was clear that he is requiring every Tuesday through Wednesday in the office.