The Missing Middle with Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux Who Really Wins with Return-to-Office Mandates?
10 snips
Sep 17, 2025 The discussion dives into Ontario’s return-to-office mandate and its implications for younger workers already struggling with high housing costs and long commutes. The hosts explore productivity versus employer control and the conflicting goals of ESG targets. Producer Meredith shares her insights on the importance of mentorship and face-to-face social interactions in fostering collaboration, while challenging the notion that remote work is a complete substitute for in-person office culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Control And Cost Trade-Offs
- Employers push return-to-office partly for control and to test employee loyalty.
- Remote work can cut real-estate and hiring costs, so mandates reflect managerial preferences more than pure economics.
Downtown Revival Versus Longer Commutes
- Governments see return-to-office as a way to revive downtown businesses and local spending.
- Bringing workers downtown increases congestion and may reduce productive time due to longer commutes.
Younger Workers Bear The Brunt
- RTO mandates hit younger workers and growing families hardest due to housing-driven longer commutes.
- Extra commuting costs and time reduce happiness, productivity, and opportunities for side projects or entrepreneurship.