RTO mandates are outdated in a hybrid workplace

"Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce its new return-to-work (RTO) mandate. The first phase of the mandate is set to start in February 2026, requiring Seattle-area employees living within a 50 miles radius of a Microsoft office will need to be in office at least three days a week. Over the next year, the company expects the same from the rest of its U.S. and international employees."

"Competitors like Google, Meta, Amazon, Zoom, and AT&T have all announced their own unique policies requiring workers to be in the office. These are all innovative, technology-led companies. Yet their RTO mandates and hybrid work policies are all supremely outdated. Instead of honestly considering what the future of work means for employees and how it can benefit companies,"

Microsoft will implement a return-to-work mandate beginning February 2026 that requires Seattle-area employees living within 50 miles of a Microsoft office to be in the office at least three days per week, with the company expecting the same across U.S. and international employees over the following year. Competitors such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Zoom, and AT&T have implemented their own in-office policies. Many RTO and hybrid policies prioritize office presence despite claims of culture and productivity. Some companies remain tied to long-term urban office leases. Others worry remote work diminishes managerial control. Gather promotes flexibility as a path to better talent, clients, and outcomes.

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