Office returns cause massive life disruption – workplace expert
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Companies mandating employees to return to the office cause significant disruptions in remote workers’ lives, according to future of work expert Dan Schawbel.
Speaking to Business Insider, Schawbel explained that this shift sparks resentment among employees as many relocated, purchased homes, and invested in home offices during the pandemic, expecting continued flexibility, especially millennials.
“It’s a massive disruption on their life because originally they made decisions predicated on the fact that they could work remotely in a COVID world,” Schawbel said.
“They already invested so much time and emotion and energy into their decision to move or have flexibility… they don’t want to have to sell everything and come back to work.”
Many companies like Meta, Google, and Salesforce have tightened return-to-office (RTO) requirements amid a difficult economic climate, contrasting with earlier perks allowing location flexibility.
Multinational technology corporation International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has instructed all managers in the United States to report in person to an office or client location at least three days per week, regardless of current remote work arrangements.
German software company SAP SE is facing internal backlash over its recent policy requiring employees to work from the office three days per week starting in April.
A ResumeBuilder.com survey found that 91% of companies will require employees to go into the office at least monthly this year. In comparison, 75% will mandate at least weekly office work, as 63% of executives have seen productivity improvements since implementing mandatory RTO policies.
Meanwhile, Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom warned mandates could diminish morale. “I think RTO mandates will reduce employee morale unless it is handled very carefully. You are forcing employees back to the office, which is unlikely to be popular as otherwise they would have come of their own volition.”
