#return-to-office

#return-to-office

"Many of these return-to-office efforts are coming at a time when demand for workers in male-dominated industries has weakened, giving employers the upper hand."

A 2024 WeWork study of business leaders found 82 percent of fully in-office and 76 percent of hybrid organizations reported significantly improved productivity, compared to 67 percent of all-remote companies.

More than a third (38%) of workers said that recent media stories about companies tightening their stance on office attendance had negatively affected their wellbeing.

Starbucks ended its remote work policy for corporate headquarters staff in 2023, drawing criticism for granting its new CEO a remote work arrangement during a time where in-office expectations are growing.

At a recent JPMorgan Chase employee town hall meeting, one brave soul brought up a petition pushing back against the firm's decision to force workers to return to the office five days a week. 'Don't waste time on it. I don't care how many people sign that f-ing petition,' CEO Jamie Dimon responded.

Several executives and leaders have said they believe productivity increases when workers are in the office together, hoping to enhance in-person collaboration.

Bank of Montreal will require employees to return to the office for four days a week starting September 15, mirroring RTO policies of other banks in Canada and the US.

After years of ramping up its RTO push, Dell called all its employees living near an office back to their desks full time starting March 3, saying it expected employees to do "a regular working day in the office" with "flexibility as needed."

"Build trust before going public." - This advice emphasizes the importance of establishing a foundation of confidence among potential union members before making their intentions known.

The rise of Revenge RTO reflects a deeper disconnect between employees and their workplace, highlighting frustrations over unmet expectations and toxic cultures.

According to a new report from Density, per-employee rent costs in U.S. sub-markets in March 2025 averaged $10,600 for companies implementing RTO policies compared to $13,500 pre-implementation.

According to the publication, IHG is now offering three 'recharge days' per year, while ServiceNow allows staff to take off six additional well-being days and HP gives employees one 'me day' annually.