In January, only 4% of CEOs said returning to the office was a top priority. They’re “throwing up their hands,” Diana Scott of The Conference Board said at the time, and focusing instead on recruiting top talent.
Now they’re hitting with their fists. Nearly eight in 10 CEOs agree with the mandate to bring employees back to the office, and some top leaders are willing to let you go if you don’t comply.
This enormous change in suits has provoked a courageous discussion. Nearly 3,000 of you responded to my recent column on the escalating pressure on workers to return to the office, sharing your own workplace arrangements and how you see this battle playing out.
The following is an edited sample of some of your comments and my thoughts on them. Feel free to share your insights in the comments section at the end to keep the conversation going.
About 75% of my time working in an office looked busy. That’s not even counting all the pointless meetings, emails, and memos that management forced me to respond to so they could justify their existence. If there is no employee on site for the job, having them on site is a waste of time and resources.
And one more:
If a cube farm requires you to sit in front of a computer all day, there’s no reason why you can’t do this at home. The savings on transportation costs and the hassle of public transportation are exceptional benefits.
KH: I completely agree. According to the US Census Bureau, the average one-way trip for Americans is 26 minutes. But I know many people who battle traffic jams both ways, multiplying that time. The out-of-pocket costs of driving can easily run into the thousands when you factor in car maintenance, gas, and parking. And in many cities, public transportation fares have increased.
I can sit at a desk in the office for eight hours and look productive. It’s not that difficult. Productivity is not location-based, but based on energy and involvement.
The main reason CEOs want to return to work is because they have leased real estate that they need to maintain. The other reason is distrust. If a CEO can’t foster a culture that can work remotely, anywhere, he’s not a good CEO.
Another reader threw in these two cents:
You can’t turn back the clock to the 20th century of work. Personally, I learn better by interacting with other people in person. But what I’ve also learned is that when I have more freedom in my day, I can be more productive in a shorter amount of time and still have my own personal time. Long commutes no longer make sense for most people.
