RTO surge signals major U.S. workplace shift in 2025, Flex Index survey reveals

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Once considered the future of work, hybrid and fully flexible arrangements face renewed pressure from policies favoring in-office work, according to the Q4 2024 Flex Report by Flex Index.

High-profile companies like Amazon, Dell, and The Washington Post have announced full return-to-office (RTO) mandates. Meanwhile, a shifting political climate, including former President Trump’s return to the White House, signals potential changes requiring government employees to return to offices full-time.

Structured hybrid dominance

The report, which analyzed 8,675 U.S.-based companies, revealed that structured hybrid work arrangements now command 43% of U.S. firms, a substantial increase from 20% in early 2023. This model, which establishes clear expectations for office attendance while maintaining some flexibility, has become particularly prevalent among larger organizations. The data shows that 73% of companies with over 25,000 employees have adopted structured hybrid policies.

In comparison, fully flexible arrangements—where employees face no mandatory office time—have dropped from 31% of firms in Q1 2023 to 25% today. Meanwhile, full-time in-office models remain the second most common option.

On average, the required office attendance has risen to 2.78 days per week, marking an increase from 2.63 days in the previous quarter.

Small firms stay flexible, while large firms favor structure

A notable divide exists between large and small enterprises in their approach to workplace flexibility. While 70% of companies with fewer than 500 employees offer full flexibility, only 14% of large enterprises with 25,000+ employees maintain such policies. 

The report reveals a polarized landscape where 57% of companies take extreme positions: 32% mandate full-time office attendance, while 25% require no office presence at all. Notably, the middle ground of requiring either one or four days per week in the office remains uncommon, with only 5% of companies adopting such policies.

As 2025 approaches, the battle between flexibility and RTO continues. While structured hybrid remains dominant, companies and employees alike will grapple with finding the balance between autonomy and office collaboration.