RTO policies are being enforced to reduce staff, data confirms. 

Return-to-office mandates are increasingly being enforced across the US to quietly reduce staff without formal layoffs, even as strong employee demand for remote work is being expressed, as reported by Fortune.

By the end of 2025, it is projected that 3 in 10 companies will require employees to work in the office five days a week, based on a survey of 849 managers

Stricter rules are already in effect among large employers, with more than half of Fortune 100 desk workers now fully in-office and companies such as Microsoft introducing requirements of at least three days per week in the office. 

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book has also reported that return-to-office requirements are being applied as a means of reducing headcount, with employee departures in some US districts specifically described as being “encouraged.”

The Federal Reserve Beige Book, published eight times a year, compiles anecdotal insights on business activity across US districts from bank officials, business leaders, and economists.

Despite these measures, surveys indicate that nearly half of employees would leave their jobs if remote work were eliminated, reflecting the persistent divide between employer strategies and worker preferences.

The Difficult Reality for Workers Who Quit

Resignations in response to return-to-office mandates are sometimes framed as a strong reaction to corporate decisions. 

Evidence, however, indicates that voluntary departures often align with organizational objectives and may expose workers to unfavorable job market conditions.

As such, the white-collar job market has been described as “increasingly frozen,” limiting the opportunities available to workers who leave their positions due to commuting requirements.

While the professional job market has slowed, growth has been recorded in other sectors. Most new jobs are in healthcare and hospitality, where demand for in-person services is growing.

Within hospitality, non-degree earners such as bartenders and baristas have experienced higher wage growth than office workers, driven by the post-pandemic surge in demand for in-person experiences.

Return-to-Office Mandates Show Persistent Patterns from 2024

Similar tactics had already been documented in 2024, when surveys showed that resignations were not only anticipated but, in some cases, intentionally triggered through in-office requirements. 

As such, a survey of more than 1,500 US managers reported that a quarter of C-suite executives expected voluntary turnover after the implementation of RTO policies, while one in five HR professionals admitted that these requirements were designed to encourage staff departures.

Inconsistencies in executive behavior were also recorded, as flexible arrangements were widely adopted at the top, with 93% of CEOs reported as not working in the office full-time and some even joining in-person meetings remotely.

Resistance among employees was likewise documented, with one in five workers reported to be ignoring office requirements despite repeated reminders and directives.

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