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We’re now finding out the damaging results of the mandated return to the office–and it’s worse than we thought

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Summary

We are now seeing the damaging effects of the mandated return to office, which is worse than expected. Reports have found that nearly half (42%) of companies with return-to-office mandates saw higher employee attrition than expected, and almost a third (29%) are struggling with recruitment. Additionally, 76% of employees would consider leaving if their companies take away flexible work, and employees from underrepresented groups are 22% more likely to consider other options. Employees were more open to returning to the office if it was out of choice, and flexible work policies have become important for talent acquisition and retention. The status quo and anchoring biases are influencing decisions and perceptions of employees, and employers must adapt to flexible work policies or risk being outcompeted.

Q&As

What negative effects have been observed as a result of mandated return-to-office policies?
Negative effects observed as a result of mandated return-to-office policies include higher levels of employee attrition than anticipated, struggles with recruitment, and an increased propensity for employees to jump ship if flexible work schedules are retracted.

What findings from the Greenhouse, SHED, and Unispace reports demonstrate employees' preference for flexible working policies?
The Greenhouse report found that 42% of candidates would reject roles that lack flexibility, and the SHED survey affirmed that employees who work from home a few days a week greatly treasure the arrangement. The Greenhouse report also ranked employees' priorities, with better flexible work policies coming in fourth.

How can understanding cognitive biases help companies create a workplace that attracts and retains employees?
Understanding cognitive biases can help companies create a workplace that attracts and retains employees by recognizing and accounting for the status quo and anchoring biases.

How did one organization's return-to-office policy cause waves of unrest and higher attrition rates?
The organization's return-to-office policy caused waves of unrest and higher attrition rates due to employees feeling averse to relinquishing newfound freedoms and feeling that new anchors (flexible work policies) were less attainable.

What are the top feelings employees reported they felt toward the office?
The top feelings employees reported they felt toward the office were happy (31%), motivated (30%), and excited (27%). However, all three of these feelings decreased for those with mandated office returns (27%, 26%, and 22%, respectively).

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an in-depth look at the damaging effects of the return to office mandate and provides valuable insights on how to adapt to the new age of flexibility.

👎 This article provides a one-sided perspective on the issue of returning to the office, with no discussion of the potential benefits.

AI Discussion

Me: It talks about the results of the mandated return to the office and how it is worse than expected. It seems that companies are experiencing increased employee attrition and difficulty recruiting due to the return to office mandates.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It's no wonder that employees are so resistant to the return to office. What other implications does the article suggest?

Me: It suggests that companies need to adapt to flexible work policies or they will be outcompeted by other employers. Moreover, the article points out the influence of cognitive biases like the status quo bias and anchoring bias on employees' decisions. People want to keep their newfound freedoms, so it is important to make sure that the transition back to the office is done in a way that is not too restrictive. It is also important to acknowledge that employees' priorities have shifted to more work-life balance and flexibility, so companies should take this into account when making decisions.

Action items

Research flexible work policies in your industry and compare them to those of your competitors.
Consider introducing flexible work policies in your organization, if they are not already in place.
Educate yourself and your team on the status quo and anchoring biases, and how they can influence decisions and perceptions.

Technical terms

Mandated return to office: A requirement that employees return to their physical office space, as opposed to working remotely.
Attrition: The gradual reduction of a workforce due to resignations, retirements, or other forms of employee turnover.
Flexible work policies: Policies that allow employees to work remotely or have flexible hours.
Cognitive biases: Mental shortcuts that people use to make decisions and form opinions.
Status quo bias: A cognitive bias that inclines people to maintain current states or resist change.
Anchoring bias: A cognitive bias that leads people to heavily rely on the first piece of information offered when making decisions.