Is RTO actually likely to happen anytime soon? If it does, will it be company-wide or targeted?
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Sure there are places to RTO…. Using the “hotel” system they’ve already created in the fancy business centers that were renovated recently. All they have to do is require 1-2 days per week for each team…
“We are concentrating our X teams at the following locations as an operational necessity.”
Easy way to push people out voluntarily and avoid paying severance.Don’t kid yourself that there aren’t more layoffs coming.
The offices outside of the distribution centers in IL and NV are small sales offices and they already gave up their Lincolnshire corporate office space in Illinois. There is nowhere to RTO.
In most locations, they don’t have enough office space to RTO full time. If it occurs, it would likely have to be part time. Many locations are just hotel desk equipped.
RTO technically already happened in the US. That’s the main point of the “Better Together” program that launched last summer.
Enforcement is currently at the department level. While corporate could theoretically issue a company-wide mandate, some departments have hundreds of people who aren’t commutable distance from any office.
I understand that corporate wants to reduce headcount, but they’re not going to jeopardize revenue by taking an entirely scattershot approach to reductions. Senior leadership wants to push out specific demographics (expensive, not aligned with their direction, underutilized/not making them money, “challenger” personalities, etc). This is evidenced by quickly replacing many of the roles they cut.
There is no blanket statement on returning to office. Each department has their own initiatives and directives as to who is doing what.
It’s targeted - only those aged 40 and up will be required to RTO.
EMEA RTO'd (2/3 days in office, but not pressured) back early 2022, must be the US / Canada dragging their feet.
RTO offers a company the benefits of a layoff without the burden of paying severance or the risk of discrimination lawsuits.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/why-rto-mandates-are-layoffs-in-disguise-according-to-workplace-experts
Sure why not