Is the return-to-office push backfiring on employers?

Overview The article gathers insights from a panel of experts who examine the growing trend of companies mandating a return to the office (RTO) and assess whether this strategy is causing unintended negative outcomes for employers, such as reduced employee morale, higher turnover, and productivity challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Mandatory RTO policies can lead to employee disengagement if not aligned with workforce preferences.
• Companies risk higher attrition rates when flexibility is removed.
• Productivity may not improve simply by bringing staff back to a physical location.
• Transparent communication and hybrid models often yield better results.
• Leadership must balance cultural goals with employee well-being.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers evaluating office policies.
• Technical leaders shaping team collaboration strategies.
• HR and people ops professionals in tech firms.
• Executives planning post-pandemic workplace models.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Hybrid work model principles.
• Employee engagement survey frameworks.
• Change management best practices.