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McKinsey Talks Talent

How to get return to office right

Feb 6, 2025
The return to office trend is reshaping workplace dynamics, contrasting leadership expectations with employee preferences. Surveys show increased in-person work, especially in sectors like healthcare and retail. Employee satisfaction varies across remote, in-person, and hybrid models, with generational differences in burnout rates. Gender dynamics also play a role, affecting job satisfaction and mentoring opportunities. Leaders face challenges in ensuring intentional engagement to foster productivity and innovation as organizations adapt to these new work models.
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Quick takeaways

  • Returning to the office can enhance productivity through spontaneous interactions, yet it may also increase stress and complicate time management.
  • Employee satisfaction with in-person work varies significantly across generations and genders, necessitating tailored RTO strategies to address diverse needs.

Deep dives

Rising Trend of Return to Office

A significant shift towards in-person work has been observed, with a talent survey indicating an increase from 34% to 68% of employees working mostly in person over a year. This trend is evident across various sectors, particularly with consumer and retail seeing a more than doubling of in-person workers. While many senior leaders advocate for a return to office, employees express mixed feelings regarding commuting time and logistical challenges, especially those balancing family responsibilities. The research suggests that most employees are being called back to the office, either formally or informally, leading to a notable change in work dynamics.

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