As Employers Require Workers To Return To Office, Spacing Issues Mount

"Desk shortages may reveal more about a company's plans for its workforce. As social distancing becomes a thing of the past, companies want employees to return to commuting for in-person work. While most employees are following employers' requests, many have noticed that their work environments literally cannot fit this demand. This issue has already taken shape at big tech companies like Instagram, which, according to Business Insider, has already had to shift gears in light of desk shortages."

"With workers competing for desks to fulfill RTO demands, the issue raises the question of why these mandates remain. Other big-name companies like AT&T and Amazon are faced with a similar conundrum, with the former previously saying it could not guarantee all employees would have available desk space. The shortage has led to in-office antics among employees to ensure their space, such as JP Morgan employees arriving extra early or leaving possessions on desks to claim them."

"What seems to be an easily resolvable issue has yet to be resolved, partially due to poor logistical planning. The mandates are often issued by the highest levels of management, not by those overseeing office spaces, leading to a gap in communication about what is needed to get everyone back in. Another reason has more sinister undertones. Some experts view the inept seating arrangements as an indicator of a "soft layoff.""

Companies are pushing employees to return to commuting and in-person work as social distancing recedes. Many offices cannot accommodate the number of returning staff, producing desk shortages at major firms including Instagram, AT&T, and Amazon. Employees compete for space with tactics like arriving early or leaving possessions to claim desks. Return-to-office mandates often originate from senior management without facilities input, creating logistical gaps. Some experts interpret insufficient seating as an intentional means to reduce headcount, while firms that downsized during the pandemic face delays in securing larger offices to meet renewed demand. Desk shortages add friction to the shift away from remote or hybrid models.

Read at Black Enterprise