Why return-to-office mandates fail::The question over whether to allow employees to work from home has been settled. Here’s the new normal.
Why return-to-office mandates fail::The question over whether to allow employees to work from home has been settled. Here’s the new normal.
I’m in a position to have knowledge about multiple bargaining committees working on their first union contracts. The demand to RTO is literally entirely the ego of CEOs and other executives that believe their opinion is more valuable than research. They also know that employees will never accept “because we say so”, so they cling to flimsy or highly biased data as evidence, without ever showing their sources or methods.
Another aspect that is likely overlooked: they’re counting on people to quit. It’s an opportunity to have a self-selecting layoff without massive payouts or running into the WARN act. Apple has made this more than apparent by mandating RTO at a location, and then relocating that office to Texas. They still have other labor laws to deal with, but they don’t care about talent retention.
The issue with the self-selecting layoffs is that it’s usually the best talent that leaves. Not that they care, as it won’t negatively impact this quarter’s numbers. But funny/sad to see them all confused a year later when number go down.
My prior employer did an unforseen and sudden about face on wfh after embracing it fully. Guess who wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear a couple of months later that several old coworkers got WARNed…guess enough of us didn’t quit to get their financials where they wanted them.