The ongoing tensions over return-to-office mandates epitomize the evolving nature of work, particularly where it unfolds, as companies continue to face the challenge of convincing employees to return to the office after COVID-19.
Remote and hybrid work do present undeniable upsides—not just for employees but also for employers, who see gains in productivity coupled with the potential for lowering real estate expenses. However, organizations have legitimate motives for wanting their employees in a given physical location. Research shows, for instance, that distance negatively impacts organizational culture, that emails and virtual calls do not always present the most effective communication methods, and that many employees lament the rise of (unnecessarily boring) meetings, not to mention longer work hours since the beginning of the pandemic.
