As soon as the market swings back up, you’re going to have a tough time trying to attract talent, if you don’t allow flexibility in your workforce.

Today's post on everyone’s favorite Linkedin debate: return to office mandates are bad.

And I don't mean bad in a subjective way. I mean bad in an objective, evidence-based way. Why? Let me show you.

First of all, return to office mandates are bad because they disrupt our work-life balance. We've spent the last year or so working from home, enjoying the benefits and convenience of our own space. We've learned how to manage our time, communicate effectively, and be productive without commuting, dressing up, or dealing with office politics. We've also had more time to spend with our families, pets, hobbies, and Netflix. Now, some bosses want to take all that away and force us to go back to the office, where we have to deal with traffic, noise, distractions, and awkward small talk.

No, thank you. I'll take my coffee in pajamas, as I review my morning inbox.

According to a survey by McKinsey , 87 percent of people who have the chance to work flexibly take it. That shows how much people value their work-life balance.

Secondly, return to office mandates are bad because they are unnecessary and ineffective. Studies have shown that remote workers are happier, healthier, and more productive than office workers. They also save money and reduce their environmental impact by not driving or taking public transportation. Remote work is the future of work, and it benefits both employees and employers. Why fix something that isn't broken?

According to a report by Global Workplace Analytics , remote workers save an average of $4,000 per year on transportation costs. They also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.6 million tons per year.

On the other hand, a Stanford survey found that companies that allow remote work see an average increase of $2,000 in profit per remote worker. They also have 25 percent lower employee turnover.

25 PERCENT LOWER TURNOVER!!!

Thirdly, return to office mandates are bad because they are insensitive and discriminatory. Not everyone can or wants to go back to the office. Some people have health issues that make them vulnerable to COVID-19 or other infections. Some people have family responsibilities that require them to stay at home. Some people have personal preferences that make them more comfortable working from home. Forcing them to go back to the office is a violation of their rights and dignity.

Increased costs: Women face increased costs as more companies return to office this fall. This includes childcare costs, transportation costs, and other expenses.

Increased stress: Returning to the office for women and people in underrepresented communities also means returning “to face bias, microaggressions, those insults, those everyday insults that happen that impact us psychologically and cause stress,” according to Dr. Janet Taylor.

Pushing women out of work: The lack of child care and in-person schooling that has pushed millions of women out of the workforce in the U.S. since March 2020 has only gotten worse with the return to office.

Challenging for women: As many companies firm up their return to office or hybrid working policies, data suggests that they might be giving the same values of flexibility and remote work a side-eye, which can be particularly challenging for women in the workforce.

Some women of color aren’t ready for a return to office due to microaggressions and pressure to conform to white standards. And that’s only part of the story for Diversity and RTO. Minorities are less inclined to return to the office full time because of caretaker responsibilities, concerns about safety and security, and feelings of inclusion. According to a recent survey, women and people of color are less likely to want to return to the office full time because of these reasons.

One study found that only 3% of Black knowledge workers wanted to return to full-time on-site work, as opposed to 21% of white peers. Another found that Black, Asian-American, and Latinx knowledge workers all preferred hybrid or fully remote work at higher rates than whites do.

According to a survey by LinkedIn , 56 percent of remote workers say they would quit their job if they were forced to return to the office. They also report higher levels of satisfaction, engagement, and well-being than office workers.

So, when the market fires up again, (and there are certain indicators it might happen soon!) are you ready to be a competitive employer?