Deep Dive Why are companies mandating five days back to office?
Nov 14, 2024
Karen Teo, Country Manager for Quess Singapore, and Dr. Issac Lim, an organizational sociologist, dive into the controversial return-to-office policies enforced by companies like Grab and Amazon. They discuss how these mandates challenge work-life balance and employee sentiment. The pair highlight the complexity of hybrid work models, exploring productivity shifts and generational differences in workforce expectations. They also address the potential hidden motives behind strict attendance policies and the importance of flexible arrangements in fostering an equitable workplace.
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Assimilation Benefits from Full RTO
- Karen Teo shared that returning to office five days a week helped her assimilate into company culture quickly.
- She noted flexibility exists even with five-day office mandates, allowing work-from-home approvals for valid reasons.
Face-to-Face Depends on Work Type
- Dr Issac Lim explained the need for face-to-face work depends on the nature of the role.
- Knowledge workers benefit from occasional office presence combined with time alone to think.
Limited Business Benefit of Full RTO
- Research shows five-day return-to-office (RTO) policies rarely improve business performance or stock prices.
- CEOs who are male, older, and powerful tend to implement stricter five-day RTOs despite weak evidence.