HR continues to grapple with RTO mandates as more companies push for fully in-person workweeks

"American employers are being more aggressive on return-to-office, creating tension in the workforce. Many return-to-office mandates represent a mismatch between what employees and companies want, according to JobLeads co-founder Martin Schmidt, who noted that 87% of job listings require fully onsite roles, with only 7% offering hybrid and 6% remote options."

"Companies that inch closer to a fully in-person workweek may find themselves in a transaction trap when an us versus them mentality sets in. Leaders may be saying get your butt back in office because there is a lack of trust, but it's a symptom of underlying culture that's not great, according to Boston Consulting Group's Deborah Lovich."

"A company can be having weak performance, and then they can look around the office and say, not everyone is here. Those two things are true, but they're not related. Some leaders may be attributing organizational issues to in-office attendance when the problems stem from other factors entirely."

The majority of job listings on JobLeads require full onsite work, with only 7% offering hybrid options and 6% remote. Office occupancy has increased to 55.1 million square feet in 2025, up from 30 million in 2020, though still below 2019 levels. However, aggressive return-to-office mandates from companies like Home Depot and Stellantis represent a mismatch between employer and employee preferences, creating workforce tension. Experts warn that strict RTO policies can create a "transaction trap" where leaders blame attendance for organizational problems unrelated to physical presence, fostering an "us versus them" mentality that damages workplace culture and trust.

Read at HR Brew