CEOs may concede RTO mandates didn’t boost productivity – experts

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Software company Scoop Technologies released its 2024 Flex Report, forecasting that executives will admit return-to-office (RTO) mandates have failed to improve productivity.
The report features predictions on flexible work trends from 13 industry experts.
“It seems like many already know that these mandates aren’t the answer,” said Annie Dean, Global Head of Team Anywhere at software firm Atlassian.
“Only one in three executives with an in-office mandate are convinced that their in-office policies have had a positive effect on productivity.”
Scoop CEO Rob Sadow added that most small companies are overwhelmingly flexible, while larger companies are more likely to mandate office time.
Other experts like Cara Allamano, Head of People Operations at Lattice, agreed RTO will not resolve productivity and engagement issues.
Instead, aligning performance metrics and engagement strategies with business needs is key. Allamano advised that RTO policy should follow, not drive, those decisions.
The report indicates flexible work is here to stay. Scoop data shows that 62% of U.S. companies now offer location flexibility, up from 51% in early 2023.