RTO Mandates: Hard Truths for Leaders

Flex Index

As companies like Amazon and Dell impose strict RTO policies, new research reveals these mandates often fail to deliver promised benefits while driving away top talent. MIT Sloan Management Review columnist Brian Elliott shares compelling evidence from multiple studies about why RTO policies backfire and what leaders should do instead.

Watch the full conversation to learn:

• Why RTO mandates don't boost financial performance: Multiple studies show no productivity gains or stock market benefits from forced office returns.

• Who's really leaving when mandates are imposed: Research reveals that high performers and frequently promoted employees are disproportionately likely to quit.

• The hidden costs of mandates: From "clock-punching" mentality to sub-50% compliance rates, RTO policies create unexpected productivity drains.

• The CEO-employee disconnect: Why leaders continue pushing policies that contradict employee preferences and research evidence.

• Better alternatives to mandates: How to shift from measuring "FaceTime" to measuring outcomes, and why team-level decisions work better than top-down policies.

• The one critical question every leader should ask before implementing RTO policies.

• What Amazon and other companies can expect: Predictions for talent loss and performance impacts as strict mandates take effect

The research is clear: return-to-office mandates are often a solution in search of a problem. Watch the full interview to discover evidence-based strategies that boost both productivity and retention.