Companies Might Be Using RTO to Push Out Less Engaged Employees (But It's Risky)
There's a hidden motive behind the push for employees to return to the office (RTO): some companies might be hoping to nudge less committed workers to quit.
Surveys suggest this tactic is at play. Here's the breakdown:
- Executives Hoping for Turnover: A survey by BambooHR found that 25% of high-level executives admitted they expected some voluntary resignations when increasing RTO requirements. This way, companies wouldn't have to pay severance or unemployment.
- Targeting Less Engaged Staff: Another survey showed that 8% of business executives see RTO as a way to encourage less dedicated, underperforming, or lazy employees to leave.
- The Bigger Picture: However, most managers claim the main goals of RTO are to improve employee development, customer interactions, and company culture. Similarly, surveys show the top reasons for RTO are boosting productivity, fostering collaboration, and better utilizing office space.
This strategy comes with a big risk: losing valuable talent.
- The Talent Drain: Surveys show that RTO mandates are a source of conflict for many employees, especially women, millennials, and high performers. In fact, a study by Gartner found that high performers are 16% less likely to stay with a company that mandates in-office work. This could lead to a significant talent drain.
- Amazon as a Case Study: Amazon's recent requirement for employees to return to the office five days a week highlights this risk. Nearly half of their employees reportedly started looking for new jobs after the announcement.
The Bottom Line: While companies might see RTO as a way to trim their workforce, it could backfire and lead to them losing valuable talent. There's still no clear answer on whether in-office attendance actually improves performance. The debate continues.