The RTO Presidential Precedent
Just one week into the new administration and we have a policy change that will undoubtedly impact the workplace for many. The President's executive order mandating federal employees' full-time return to office isn't just a policy change—it's a catalyst that will likely reshape private sector workplace strategies far more rapidly than anticipated.
This mandate arrives at a critical moment, intersecting with the AI-driven productivity evolution we discussed in our previous post. As organizations grapple with maximizing both efficiency and innovation, this federal directive provides the impetus many private sector leaders have been seeking to accelerate their own return-to-office initiatives.
Major tech companies—whose CEOs were prominently featured at the inauguration—are no doubt poised to follow the federal government's lead. This alignment between public policy and tech industry giants signals a broader paradigm shift, one that could quickly cascade across all sectors.
The timing is particularly noteworthy with the federal government setting a five-day in-office precedent, we expect to see a domino effect, particularly among organizations already questioning the long-term viability of remote work arrangements.
Yet, as we've consistently emphasized, location mandates alone won't drive success. The organizations that will thrive in this transition are those that pair their return-to-office strategies with robust cultural frameworks—fostering environments where communications, engagement, and purposeful collaboration flourish.
C.E.O.s and President Trump, Want Workers Back in the Office
As predicted.
Many remote workers say they’d be likely to leave their job if they could no longer work from home
“Nearly half of workers in this group (46%) say that if their employer no longer allowed them to work from home, they would be unlikely to stay at their current job. This includes 26% who say they’d be very unlikely to stay.”
“Our national loneliness is an “urgent public health issue,” according to the surgeon general. The time we spend socializing in person has plummeted in the past decade, and anxiety and hopelessness have increased.”
Some Walmart Managers Get a Raise, Lifting Their Max Pay Above $600,000
“Retailer increases bonus, stock awards for regional store managers, and cuts some perks for office workers”
“A lot of young adults who spent their prime developmental and socializing years under lockdown have been hesitant if not downright opposed to rejoining a life lived in public.”
How Vuori Became One of the Hottest Names in Fashion
The new Lulu has an incredible valuation.
Will Dress Shirts Return to the Office?
A pendulum swings forward and backward. It’s inevitable. It’s physics!
Culture Edit Podcast
Ep. 075 – Guest Anthony Vennare, Fitt Insider
This week’s guest is Anthony Vennare, Co-Founder of Fitt Insider and Wellworthy, a platform for health and wellness, which include popular newsletter, media, consulting, and talent acquisition. They chat about all things business of health, the emerging trends in the fitness industry, some “taboo” topics, beating cancer, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur and build a business through adversity. Refreshing and real, this is one of the best interviews they’ve had on the pod. Make sure you subscribe to Fitt Insider and give Anthony a follow on LinkedIn. They are doing big things at Fitt, and you don’t want to miss out.