The Wave of Return To Office Mandates

Explore Return to Office (RTO) mandates on how companies are changing their approach to satisfy their employees and their retention of diverse talent.
August 12th, 2023
5 mins to read
Future of Work
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The Wave of Return To Office Mandates
Table Of Contents

Why Is RTO Trending? 

Return to Office is a trendy topic to write and speak about because there is a change every day. As the workforce evolves companies like ZOOM, Amazon, Disney, Tesla, and Google have brought RTO mandates for their employees to update the return to work policy. These are yet huge corporations that are more intuitive in bringing remote and hybrid work models due to flexibility and what the employees want.  

We are looking at the workforce going back to regular full time or at least a 4-day work implementation will be enforced. Yet companies and huge corporations have looked into the return to work policy and hybrid work policy. Since these two policies were brought after the pandemic, employees can work and continue what they are looking for in what the company brings and does for them. Not like the old times when you were working for a company just because of basic needs.

What is Return to Office In The Workplace?

Return to Office brings more towards the Workplace which looks at Office Management. The Office Management insights are way more into are: 

  1. Work Ethics 
  2. Recruitment & Retention 
  3. Different Roles & Functions
  4. Productivity Gains & Losses
  5. Building a Diverse and Inclusive Team 
  6. Resistance to support in the office 

These 6 aspects of Office Management are looking at the Support System Spectrum to the resistance within the office environment. For a seamless shift, whether full-time or hybrid, employers must comprehend their team members in order to assist the entire employee. Effective support techniques can result from an understanding of both professional and personal difficulties. Employers can enhance communication and encourage positive reactions to policies and practices by using the Resistance to Support Spectrum.

(Harvard Business Review)

Why Is RTO Important?

Fostering Collaboration and Innovation

One of the primary reasons for implementing a return to office mandate is to foster face-to-face collaboration among employees. While remote work offers flexibility and autonomy, it can also create barriers to spontaneous interactions, idea sharing, and team synergy. Returning to the office allows employees to collaborate more effectively, exchange ideas in real-time, and leverage collective expertise to drive innovation and problem-solving.

Enhancing Communication and Alignment

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful organizations, and returning to the office can facilitate clearer and more efficient communication channels. In-person interactions allow nuance in tone, body language, and facial expressions that may be lost in virtual communication.

Reasons Companies Need To Place RTO Mandates

Return to Office Matters 

As we change and adapt to Return to Office mandates and regulations it is all around management and the people. According to remote work, all employees have the flexibility and the ability to get work done at their own pace. Globally, more than 7 in 10 businesses have enforced a return to the office, yet many are having trouble retaining and hiring talent.

Nevertheless, 42% of companies say that employee attrition is currently higher than expected, and 29% say it is extremely difficult to find new employees.

Overall this matters….

  1. Eager Employees 
  2. Commute is one of the barriers and some workplaces offer transportation payment 

Hybrid Work Shifting to RTO Mandates ….

Companies and Employees are in love with Hybrid and Remote Work. They are now reviewing their policy and regulations around flexibility for their employees. 

Here is what Litespace recommends when we are looking at: 

  1. Hybrid Work Policy 
  2. Return To Office Plan 
  3. Return To Work Policy 
RTO Mandates are springing up all over the place, leaving many to wonder if hybrid work was ever the end goal.

RTO Mandates News Updates

  1. CNBC - Long-term Work Solutions for RTO Manadates focused on what Executives approach for return to work solutions 
  2. ZOOM - RTO mandates and the Future Workforce, are well focused providing more incentives to return back into the office. And improving work culture among employees 
  3. Business Insider - looks at all top corporations returning to the office and their mandates. 
Aqsa Aamir
Aqsa Aamir

Aqsa Aamir is a Digital Strategist at Litespace and has a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management. Aqsa has experience in several areas of business and digital strategy. Aqsa's proficiency in creating hybrid work tactics to offer guidance in content planning. Her current focus is on hybrid work models and culture building in marketing. 

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