One of our friends in Columbus, Ohio, recently told us her husband – who currently works from home full time – is being asked to return to the office, all five days a week. It’s a shock to the system, and many employees country-wide are protesting.

So why are these companies doing it?

The Power of Teams.
Not like Microsoft Office Teams… Coworker teams. Anyway, many leaders believe that working in-person fosters better team dynamics and creativity. In an office environment, spontaneous interactions and real-time discussions can lead to more innovative ideas and problem-solving. Some executives feel that these organic connections are harder to achieve through virtual channels, even with the best technology.

Culture.
Ah, the infamous buzz word that floated around offices pre-COVID is resurfacing again. For some organizations, they believe having employees physically present supports a stronger sense of unity and shared mission. In-person activities, team meetings, and events are seen as valuable opportunities to reinforce a company’s values and purpose, which may be diluted in a fully remote setup.

Productivity.
Additionally, some managers find it challenging to gauge productivity in a remote setting. Although many employees thrive with the flexibility of working from home, others may face distractions. Returning to the office can provide structure for those who need it, making it easier to meet performance goals.

When major players like Amazon, Google, Meta, Disney, and Goldman Sachs rolled out in-office mandates (with varying degrees of flexibility), CEO ears across the country perked. Here are the ins and outs of these big players’ back-to-office mandates:

  1. Amazon has implemented a three-day-per-week policy for office employees, citing improved collaboration and team dynamics as key reasons for the shift.
  2. Google also requires employees to work in the office at least three days a week. Leadership at Google believes that in-person work encourages innovation and helps preserve the company’s collaborative culture.
  3. Meta (formerly Facebook) has introduced similar policies, encouraging in-person collaboration to enhance creativity and team cohesion. Meta’s leadership sees office interactions as essential to the company’s culture and long-term growth.
  4. Disney moved to a four-day work-from-office policy for many employees. CEO Bob Iger has emphasized that returning to the office will help boost collaboration and creative synergy, especially in content production and development roles.
  5. Goldman Sachs requires most of its employees to work on-site full-time, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interaction for productivity and career development.

We hope, for all of you out there, that your employer offers reasonable back-to-work regulations.