Government and corporate return-to-office mandates lack operational readiness
Forcing employees back to the office without the infrastructure to support them is a failure of basic planning. In the U.S. government, workers are arriving at offices that lack desks, Wi-Fi, or even functional power. Some face safety hazards, exposed wiring, bad lighting, and unsanitary conditions. If a workplace can’t offer even the basics, expecting productivity is absurd.
Corporate missteps aren’t any better. Amazon, for example, has pushed for a full return-to-office policy, yet it simply doesn’t have the space for all employees. Instead of an immediate resolution, the company has had to delay its mandate in cities like New York, Atlanta, and Dallas—potentially until mid-2025. AT&T has also struggled. Even as it pushes for a five-day-a-week model, workstations won’t accommodate the full workforce, with only 70–80% of the necessary desks available. These failures inconvenience employees and directly reduce output.
Leaders need to focus on execution, not just policy. An in-office model only works if spaces are ready and properly equipped. Otherwise, companies risk losing productivity and credibility. If you want employees on-site, make sure the infrastructure is in place. Anything less is inefficiency disguised as strategy.
Political motivations are driving return-to-office policies
Return-to-office policies should be based on productivity and efficiency, not political agendas. The U.S. government’s push to eliminate remote work is framed as a way to improve oversight, but the actual execution suggests otherwise. Former President Donald J. Trump justified this mandate by claiming that only 6% of federal employees were working in-person. In reality, data from the House Oversight Committee showed that 43% of the workforce was still teleworking as of September 2023. The policies being implemented do not align with the operational needs of the workforce or the data that exists.
At the same time, government leaders are reducing office capacity while demanding in-person attendance. The administration announced plans to terminate leases for a quarter of government-owned office space, including key federal properties. This raises an obvious question: where are all the employees supposed to work? These conflicting actions indicate that the return-to-office push is not about efficiency, but control. Decisions should be made based on measurable outcomes, not ideology.
Business leaders should take note. Mandating in-office work without a clear operational purpose leads to inefficiency and frustration. Successful organizations focus on results, not outdated management styles. The priority should be creating an environment that maximizes productivity—whether that’s in an office, remote, or hybrid. Let data, not politics, dictate workplace strategy.
Inadequate management planning is harming employee morale and workplace efficiency
Poor execution of return-to-office policies is damaging employee morale and overall efficiency. If leadership forces people back into offices, those workplaces must be functional. That’s not happening. Government employees are arriving to find offices with broken infrastructure, issues with electricity, unreliable internet, and unsanitary conditions. Instead of improving productivity, these conditions create frustration and disruption.
Corporate leaders are making the same mistakes. At Amazon, the company has struggled to provide enough office space, leading to delays in bringing employees back to cities like New York, Dallas, and Atlanta. The company has resorted to leasing additional space through WeWork to compensate for poor planning. AT&T faces a similar issue, as its phased return-to-office strategy allows for only 70–80% of the necessary desks for workers. Executives claim in-person work is essential for culture and collaboration, yet the failure to ensure proper resources contradicts that message.
If businesses want employees in the office, leadership must first make sure that the work environment actually supports them. Failing to do so erodes trust, reduces engagement, and weakens performance. Smart leaders focus on execution, not just policy.
Main highlights
- Office mandates are failing due to poor planning: Forcing employees back without adequate infrastructure results in lost productivity and frustration. Leaders must ensure workplaces are fully equipped with reliable internet, sufficient space, and functional facilities before mandating in-office attendance.
- Political agendas are driving ineffective policies: Return-to-office mandates based on ideology rather than operational needs create inefficiencies. Leadership should focus on workforce productivity data instead of enforcing outdated oversight models that contradict logistical realities.
- Lack of execution is damaging morale and efficiency: Employees returning to dysfunctional offices experience lower engagement and trust in leadership. Decision-makers must prioritize execution over rhetoric by aligning return-to-office policies with properly resourced work environments.
