They’re finally saying the quiet part out loud: 25% of executives and 20% of HR professionals hoped return-to-office (RTO) mandates would encourage staff to quit.
The admissions were part of a study by HR software company BambooHR, in which 1,500 employees were surveyed — one third of whom work in HR. It found that RTO mandates are essentially back-channel layoffs, which have negatively impacted post-COVID work culture.
Consequently, more than one third of leadership respondents indicated that their companies undertook formal layoffs due to insufficient voluntary departures.
The study reveals a deteriorating office culture marked by increased performative behaviors and distrust. Both remote and in-office employees are compelled to show productivity, with 42% of respondents admitting they attend the office primarily to be seen by their bosses. This results in about two hours of non-productive time daily, driven by the need to appear busy.
Economist Nick Bloom said that the return-to-office trend was dead late last year, noting that remote work had become the prevailing norm without adversely affecting company profits. Meanwhile, 22% of HR professionals admitted to having no metrics to assess the success of RTO plans — underscoring the hasty and often poorly-executed nature of these mandates.
The report emphasized that successful work models, whether remote, in-office, or hybrid, require an open culture that listens to employees and avoids micromanagement. It also showed that the mental and emotional burdens on workers are significant, and companies that genuinely seek to improve based on employee feedback will thrive.
