These return-to-office (RTO) mandates are getting out of hand, with the Washington Post leadership answering a question about remote work by telling those that don’t want to give it up to resign.
The push to get employees back in the office over the last year has been nothing if not substantial. Business owners and CEOs have been fervently committed to the movement, whether or not the decisions is backed up by productivity statistics (they’re not).
Now, the Washington Post is taking a hardline against its more vocal remote workers in hopes of squelching the backlash that has been so common for businesses establishing RTO mandates.
The Washington Post RTO Mandate Backlash
Earlier this month, a company memo from the Washington Post CEO Will Lewis thanked employees for their stellar work in covering the 2024 US Presidential Election. Unfortunately, that work was not rewarded, with the memo later noting that all employees would have to return to the office five days per week, with no exceptions.
As is often the case in the face of return-to-office policies from companies that really don’t need them, the employees have been less than keen on accepting the mandate, raising questions about the necessity of the change.
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Unfortunately, the Washington Post leadership was quick to squash any hope of remote work sticking around.
“If an employee decides they do not wish to return to work at The Post on a 5-day a week office schedule, we understand and will accept their resignation.” – Will Lewis, CEO of Amazon, in a company memo
Bezos-Owned Business Back at Work
The Washington Post is not the only Bezos-owned enterprise that is trying — and failing — to get employees back in the office on a more consistent basis.
In fact, Amazon and its employees have been embroiled in a heated battle over the remote work future of the ecommerce giant, with workers banding together to demand the company consider a more flexible approach to working accommodations.
Many have even accused Amazon of using the strict RTO mandate as a way to quietly layoff employees, with the new rules representing a dealbreaker for many employees. And while the CEO denies these claims, it’s hard to deny the trend across the tech landscape.
Should Remote Work End?
With so many big companies around the world insisting that employees go back to the office, it’s safe to wonder whether or not remote work is going to be around for much longer.
Luckily, there are still companies committed to remote work in a serious way, and for good reason. Studies have shown that offering remote work can help businesses attract the best talent, with some even showing an increase in revenue and productivity when offering the perk.
On top of that, employees are simply happier when remote work — or at least hybrid work — is available. From improved mental health to better work-life balance, remote work has been an overall boon for the business world, no matter what the leadership at the Washington Post or Amazon have to say about it.
