Flex Index

Our Q4 2024 #FlexReport is now live! ?? https://bit.ly/3yNEYit The #RTO debate is heating up. Major companies like Amazon, Dell Technologies, and The Washington Post are pushing for full-time in-office work, while political shifts may mandate office presence for government employees. But is this a universal trend or just isolated cases? Our latest report explores the emerging workplace trends beyond the headlines. Here's a little sneak peek of what's inside ??

While recent headlines might suggest a massive #RTO wave, our Q4 2024 Flex Index data tells a more nuanced story ?? The data reveals structured hybrid work (43%) has now surpassed full-time office requirements (32%) as the dominant workplace model among US companies. This shift represents a 23 percentage point increase in structured hybrid adoption since Q1 2023, showing companies are finding middle ground between flexibility and in-person collaboration. Fully flexible arrangements have decreased from 31% to 25%, suggesting employers are refining their approach rather than abandoning flexibility altogether.

The talent wars in telecom are heating up ?? Verizon has reached out to AT&T employees with a clear message: "Affected by your company's #RTOmandate? We have #hybrid and #remote roles waiting for you." This comes right after AT&T ordered its 149,900-person workforce back to office five days a week in January. Meanwhile, Verizon is showcasing #flexibility as a competitive advantage in recruitment. What do you think? Smart strategy or corporate poaching?

"People spend so much time at the office, let's make it something that's great." ICYMI, we sat down with Nathan Manuel, Co-Founder and Principal of Real Estate & Workplace Solutions at PM2 to discuss ?? ? Nathan's approach to office development during his 10yr tenure at MediaMath ? Post-pandemic innovation in office design & functionality ? Various office models and their suitability for different types of companies Check out Nathan's full #FlexPerspectives episode: https://bit.ly/4kcYAj4

With stricter #RTOmandates, many professionals are resorting to "task-masking" - the art of appearing busy at work. Walking quickly through the office, typing loudly, or carrying stacks of files are becoming common theater tactics. Recent data shows 61% of employees report higher productivity while working from home, while just a third maintain equal productivity in the office. The challenge for leaders isn't simply catching task-maskers but understanding what drives this behavior - whether it's burnout, lack of meaningful work, or high performers who complete tasks efficiently. More from WorkLife ?? https://bit.ly/4iesX6M

As companies push for office returns, the real ?? to success isn't mandates — it's mutual trust. Leaders who work in-office consistently, communicate transparently, and genuinely engage with employee feedback are seeing the best #RTO results. A few tips for leaders ?? ?? Establish a shared vision first ??? Ask for structured feedback ?? Be transparent about trade-offs ?? Follow through on feedback

Interesting approach to #RTO conversations from Cameo: instead of mandates, they're offering meaningful incentives ?? The Chicago-based startup is taking a bold step by offering: ? $10,000 salary increase for in-office work 4 days/week ? Full suite of perks including catered lunches, gym memberships, and parking ? $5,000 relocation bonus for out-of-state employees moving to Chicago CEO Steven Galanis puts it well: "We believe people are more valuable in person, and I wanted to put our money where our mouth is." What do you think of Cameo's approach? Is this the start of a new era of #RTO strategy?

A recent Harris Poll survey of 1,000+ adults in the US paints an interesting picture of a working world where #flexibility, including the right to work #remotely, is becoming the 'golden ticket' of the privileged few. Some key findings from the survey ?? ? #Tech workers have a 34% chance of landing remote roles ? #Finance and #Marketing professionals aren't far behind at ~25% ? #Customerservice roles have plummeted to just 7% of remote listings ? 6 in 10 employees are quietly job hunting for remote positions The gap is particularly stark for working parents and lower-income workers who face mounting #RTO costs like #commuting (47%), unexpected expenses (28%), and childcare challenges.

?? Big news in #RTO debates: J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon is taking a firm stance on their 5-day office mandate amid employee pushback. In a recent town hall, Dimon made it clear he won't budge on JPMorgan's in-person work policy, emphasizing efficiency and face-to-face #collaboration. While some employees have started a petition (gathering ~950 signatures out of 317,000+ global employees), Dimon's focus remains on boosting productivity, targeting 10% efficiency gains across departments. More on the story ??

Companies may be calling workers back to the office, but is that what the talent really wants?