The Return To Office (RTO) is the topic of many office and leadership conversations and is picking up steam globally. Many organizations are requiring employees to return to brick-and-mortar offices, but why the shift? Some leaders think working in an onsite office improves productivity, inspires collaboration, and fosters a healthier work culture. But, as the world of work continues to evolve, so does the debate around the effectiveness of RTO requirements over a hybrid or a fully remote model. So, let us dig in, check the facts and learn what industry leaders are saying as we: 1) look at the reasons behind the increased mandates, 2) the underpinning “side” conversations, 3) the impact on employees and organizations, 4) hybrid models: finding middle ground, and 5) the future outlook for this work model.
1. Reason Behind Return to Office Mandates
Productivity and Collaboration: Many employers argue that face-to-face employee interactions improve engagement, creativity, and productivity more than hybrid or remote options. According to Miroslavov (2024), some organizations mainly want employees back in the office to build team cohesion, promote in-person collaboration, and rebuild the company culture, suggesting this is impossible in a remote or hybrid work environment.
Real Estate Challenges: During the pandemic, many organizations were unexpectedly forced to transition to remote and hybrid work options, leaving facilities unused. According to Chamorro-Premuzic (2025), for some companies, building ownership and long-term office leases represent a significant sunk cost, and those reasons are used to justify calling employees back to the office.
Leadership Preferences: Chamorro-Premuzic (2025) revealed that the most common reasons may be more about reinforcing a traditional hierarchical work structure, known as pure power play. Some may consider that a matter of control.
2. Underpinning “Side” Conversations
So, what underpinning message is behind RTO? Is it a matter of the leader’s control? Is it that leaders want an audience? Is it a way of reducing their workforce without firing? Chamorro-Premuzic (2025) shares that some factors enforcing RTO are based on politics, bias, subjective opinions, and the fact that some never believed in hybrid work in the first place. Also, citing that it may be a useful way to reduce the workforce by making the work environment less flexible, pushing employees to quit voluntarily without resorting to costly layoffs, severance, or unemployment costs (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2025).
3. Impact on Employees and Organizations
Employee Perspectives
Work-Life Balance: We know the positive effect a flexible work schedule can have on employees, and a shift back to full-time office work could disrupt what so many employees have achieved through remote or hybrid arrangements (Bremen, 2025). Also, there is a significant impact on parents who may face challenges managing childcare or elder care responsibilities.
Flexibility and Autonomy: Employees accustomed to the flexibility of remote work often resist RTO mandates. Bremen (2025) shared a survey indicating that 53% of employees whose work can be done remotely would change their jobs if their employer mandated a full-time RTO policy, even citing a willingness to take a pay cut just to work flexibly.
Organizational Implications
Talent Retention: Organizations that strongly enforce RTO policies may face an increased decline in loyal and talented employees. A recent survey found that 8 in 10 employers lost valuable employees due to these strict mandates (Dennison, 2024).
4. Hybrid Models: Finding Middle Ground
Many organizations have adopted hybrid work models for years, and others may be looking for options allowing employees to split their time between remote and in-office work (WTW, 2024). This approach aims to balance business needs with employee preferences, offering flexibility while maintaining opportunities for face-to-face collaboration (ATHENA Consulting LLC, 2025; Elliott, 2024).
5. The Future Outlook
While the RTO trend is gaining traction, it may pose some critical risks. However, some employers may continue pushing for RTO mandates as the labor market shifts, even though others believe the five-day-in-office work is outdated. Since the pandemic, many employees have grown to value flexibility, and companies that fail to offer it may suffer a loss of talented employees.
Summing It Up
Although RTO messages are flooding the media, business leaders should consider the impact they may have on their employees. These types of mandates could lead to potential backlash and even incite quiet quitting. By embracing flexible work models, organizations can better navigate the evolving landscape of modern work. These efforts can also aid organizations in looking toward a future of work that benefits them and their employees’ well-being.
Warm regards,
Lisa
References
ATHENA Consulting LLC. (2025, February 28). Key return to office trends for 2025. https://athenaconsultingllc.com/key-return-to-office-trends-for-2025/
Bremen, J. M. (2025, February 28). Where will return-to-office mandates land in 2025? WTW. https://www.wtwco.com/en-sg/insights/2025/02/where-will-return-to-office-mandates-land-in-2025
Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2025, February 28). The real reasons companies are forcing you back to the office. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomaspremuzic/2025/02/28/the-real-reasons-companies-are-forcing-you-back-to-the-office/
Dennison, K. (2024, July 10). How return to office policies are impacting employees in 2024. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/karadennison/2024/07/10/how-return-to-office-policies-are-impacting-employees-in-2024/
Elliott, B. (2024, December 16). Five hybrid work trends to watch in 2025 | Brian Elliott | MIT Sloan Management Review. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/five-hybrid-work-trends-to-watch-in-2025/
Miroslavov, M. (2024, October 23). 3 reasons companies want employees back in the office. OfficeRnD. https://www.officernd.com/blog/reasons-companies-want-employees-back-in-the-office/
WTW. (2024, December 5). The future of remote work on businesses – Big box tool kit. https://www.bigboxtoolkit.com/the-future-of-remote-work-on-businesses/
