Do managers go into the office less often than their direct reports?

Summary

This article examines the complexity of Return to Office (RTO) policies and how they affect employee morale. It finds that while most workers are not bothered by their boss coming into the office less than them, 77% of workers have team members who don't come in weekly even though they are required to. Nearly half of workers surveyed said they would quit their job if their employer mandated a full-time return to the office, which highlights the need for flexible RTO policies. Managers need to be aware of the expectations for their teams and set the tone for flexibility in order to maintain morale and culture.

Q&As

AI Comments

👍 This article highlights the complexity of RTO policies and how leadership plays a key role in managing those conversations with their teams. It's great that employers are considering the impact of these policies on workers' morale and providing flexibility in their RTO policies.

👎 This article fails to address how employers can effectively manage remote teams with different RTO policies without creating tension and impacting morale. There are no solutions proposed to make sure that workers are still engaged and productive.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how employers need to be careful when implementing an RTO policy, because managers set the tone for their teams and inconsistent RTO and WFH expectations can impact morale.

Friend: That's interesting. It makes sense that managers should be setting an example, but it also sounds like it could be tricky to manage if some people want to go in to the office while others prefer to work remotely.

Me: Yeah, it could be a challenge for employers. They need to make sure their policies are flexible enough to accommodate workers who want to work from home, but also consistent enough to keep morale high. Otherwise, workers may start looking for new jobs if they aren't given the flexibility they need.

Action items

• Communicate RTO and WFH expectations to employees clearly and consistently.
• Ensure managers are setting the tone for their teams and that they are not coming into the office less frequently than their direct reports.
• Offer flexibility to employees and avoid strict RTO mandates that could lead to employee dissatisfaction and turnover.

Technical terms

RTO

Return to Office

WFH

Work From Home

HR Dive

Human Resources Dive, a website that provides news and insights on the human resources industry

Integrated Benefits Institute

A nonprofit research organization that focuses on health, productivity, and financial security

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