Rapid Response Return-to-office: What leaders are getting wrong, with Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei
Feb 7, 2025
Frances Frei, a Harvard Business School professor and co-host of the TED Media podcast Fixable, dives into the complexities of return-to-office policies. She challenges the popular belief that in-person work boosts productivity, revealing employee preferences for flexibility. Frei discusses how these mandates can adversely affect diversity and talent retention, particularly among top performers. Additionally, she explores the transformative impact of AI on workplace dynamics and offers tips for more effective meetings, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership.
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RTO Driven by Nostalgia
- CEOs, driven by nostalgia, are implementing RTO policies despite evidence suggesting decreased performance.
- This preference for in-person work seems to be based on personal feelings rather than objective data.
RTO and Productivity
- Studies show that RTO doesn't improve productivity and employees highly value flexibility.
- Shifting from three days in-office to five worsens the employee value proposition without firm benefit.
RTO and Company Culture
- The claim that full-time office presence strengthens company culture is a myth.
- Constant presence can hinder work due to lack of privacy and increased distractions.