## Employers Push for Return to Office Work
After more than two years of striving to lure employees back to offices, employers are becoming less patient. The era of enticing workers with free food, laundry services, and yoga classes has largely passed. Now, executives are resorting to threats, forcing employees to decide whether they are willing to relinquish the flexibility they have grown accustomed to.
### Tech Companies U-Turn on Remote Work
Interestingly, technology companies that were once advocates of remote work are changing their stance. Zoom, the company whose video conferencing tool facilitated the swift transition to remote work during the pandemic, recently required employees living within 50 miles of a Zoom office to start coming in [at least twice a week](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/08/zoom-back-to-office-mandate/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5). Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has revised its return-to-office policy, warning employees they could face termination if they do not come in at least three days a week, starting September 5.
At Amazon, remote workers face a choice between moving or giving up their jobs, with some facing a significantly higher cost of living. During a recent meeting, Chief Executive Andy Jassy was blunt, stating that if employees cannot commit to returning to the office three days a week, “it’s probably not going to work out for you at Amazon.”
### The Shift Towards In-person Work
This push for in-person work signifies a significant shift as executives openly acknowledge the challenges with remote work models — with some claiming a decline in productivity and fewer opportunities for spontaneous collaboration, mentorship, and relationship building. Furthermore, employers are gaining leverage as the labor market cools, leaving workers with fewer options.
According to Matt Cohen, founder and managing partner of Ripple Ventures, a venture fund in Toronto, “The pendulum has shifted from employees having all the power.” He added that many start-up founders he works with are now requiring employees to be in offices a few days a week, despite some resistance.
### Hybrid Work Models and their Effectiveness
About 52 percent of remote-capable U.S. workers are operating under hybrid arrangements, according to [data from Gallup](https://www.gallup.com/401384/indicator-hybrid-work.aspx). However, while employers cite the collaborative benefits of in-person interaction, the majority of hybrid arrangements aren’t fostering the connections bosses seek, according to Rob Cross, associate professor of management at Babson College.
Cross suggests that mandates for a certain number of days in the office are missing the mark, as they’re not facilitating collaboration between the right people. He recommends using analytics to determine which workers should come in on the same days, an approach estimated to be employed by only about 5 percent of organizations.
### Tech Companies Adopting Team-Based Approach
Tech companies like Cisco are trying a team-based approach, giving every team autonomy in deciding how and when to work. The goal is to make employees excited about coming into the office to connect with their colleagues without overburdening them or limiting their ability to focus.
### The Balance Between Remote and In-office Work
For employees who value flexibility, the shift towards in-office work is unwelcome. The challenge will be striking a balance between the benefits of both remote and in-office work. The continued struggle for this balance may lead to more companies trying out different models to see what works best for their employees and their business.
Regardless of the approach, it’s clear that the workplace is changing. As companies grapple with the challenges of hybrid work models and the push for a return to the office, the future of work remains uncertain.
Original Story at www.washingtonpost.com – 2023-09-03 13:02:58
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