Why RTO Mandates are Driving 2025’s Productivity Crisis
Amazon, AT&T, Sweetgreen, JPMorgan, and other companies doubled down on full return-to-office mandates for 2025. While executives believe in-person work boosts productivity and collaboration, Google searches for “companies with remote work” have surged 300% in the past month, highlighting the growing demand for flexibility.
As RTO policies continue to roll out, productivity expert warns this move could backfire, leading to a major productivity disaster.
Here, Avery Morgan, Chief Human Resources Officer at EduBirdie reveals 4 reasons RTO mandates are crushing productivity:
1. Presence over performance
RTO mandates may seem beneficial for junior workers who need more structure and oversight, but if you believe that the performance of middle and senior managers depends on their physical presence, you’ve hired the wrong people. This outdated obsession with physical presence fosters micromanagement, strips employees of autonomy, and crushes creativity. Remote work focuses on what truly matters—results.
2. Talent retention disaster
Return-to-office policies are driving talent out the door. In response to Amazon’s RTO policy, nearly half its office workers are looking for new jobs. Caregivers, neurodivergent employees, and top performers with options won’t tolerate rigid policies that ignore their needs. While some companies use RTO mandates to cut headcount without layoffs, they often lose their most skilled and adaptable workers in the process.
3. Open offices destroy focus
Open-plan offices may seem like hubs for collaboration, but for many, they’re productivity graveyards. Constant noise, impromptu meetings, and frequent interruptions make deep focus nearly impossible—especially for roles requiring creative or analytical work. Remote environments, tailored to individual needs, eliminate distractions and unlock employee potential.
4. Stress and financial strain
For many employees, the office isn’t just unproductive—it’s stressful and expensive. Surveys show workers fear a lifetime in an office more than divorce (43%) or even chronic illness (24%). Adding to the stress, the average employee returning to the office faces $561 in monthly costs for transportation, child and pet care, and domestic assistance. These factors make the return-to-office mandate a fast track to disengagement and burnout.