The RTO mandate is total BS

Hey Freaking Nomads,

I'm sure you have all heard of the recent wave of return-to-office (RTO) mandates sweeping through major corporations.

This is, quite frankly, total BS.

As digital nomads, we've long known the benefits of remote work, but it seems some companies are determined to turn back the clock on workplace flexibility.

Amazon, once a pioneer of remote work, has taken a drastic step backward. CEO Andy Jassy recently announced that starting January 2025, all corporate employees must return to the office five days a week. This move goes even further than their previous three-day in-office policy, which already faced significant backlash from employees.

But Amazon isn't alone in this regressive trend.

Other tech giants like Apple and Google have also tightened their RTO policies.

IBM has gone as far as tracking daily office attendance and threatening termination for non-compliance!

These mandates are not only out of touch with modern work preferences but also potentially counterproductive.

Many executives keep claiming in-person work boosts productivity, but research often shows the opposite. Remote workers frequently report higher productivity due to fewer distractions and better work-life balance.

Strict RTO policies are also driving away top talent. At Amazon, thousands of employees protested the five-day mandate: some people said they would rather come back to school (LOL!) while 73% said they are thinking of quitting!

And if quitting and protests weren't enough, companies enforcing office returns are also struggling with recruitment and retention.

Some even speculate that RTO mandates might be disguised as mass layoffs. Apparently, by making work conditions less favorable, companies may be hoping employees will quit voluntarily.

Fortunately, the good news is that while these companies push for RTO, others are embracing remote work as a competitive advantage. We have talked about these companies in a recent article we published on our site if you want to learn more.

The truth is that the genie is out of the bottle. Workers have experienced the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, and now they're not willing to give them up easily.

Companies insisting on full-time office presence are fighting against the tide of workplace evolution.

So, to our fellow nomads facing RTO pressures right now, I say: stand your ground.

The future of work is remote, and companies that fail to adapt will ultimately lose out on talent like you and a chance to innovate.

There will be always opportunities for those who value freedom and flexibility in their work life.

And for those of you who are still considering the digital nomad lifestyle, let this RTO trend be the push you need.

Stay free, stay productive, and keep freaking nomading!

Cheers,
Luca

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