> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://werd.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Companies issuing RTO mandates “lose their best talent”: Study
- URL: https://werd.io/companies-issuing-rto-mandates-lose-their-best-talent-study/
- Published: 2024-12-20T02:43:03.000Z
- Updated: 2024-12-20T02:43:03.000Z
- Author: Ben Werdmuller
- Tags: Labor, Notable links, #Import 2025-06-11 21:47

\[[Scharon Harding at Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/12/companies-issuing-rto-mandates-lose-their-best-talent-study/)\]

From the "gee, you don't say" department:

> "Return-to-office (RTO) mandates have caused companies to lose some of their best workers, a study tracking over 3 million workers at 54 "high-tech and financial" firms at the S&P 500 index has found. These companies also have greater challenges finding new talent, the report concluded."

The study finds that RTO policies increased turnover rates by 14% - although, of course, in many cases *that was part of the point*, as a kind of quiet layoff that didn't involve the same level of bad press or the financial commitments to departing employees. (As part of the study, 25% of executives admitted to this. Which is a lot!)

The study also calls out that RTO rules convey "a culture of distrust that encourages management through monitoring," which is spot on - and nobody wants to feel like they're being surveilled or treated like children.

Don't get me wrong: I love coming into the office from time to time. But RTO policies - at least for most knowledge workers - are an employee-hostile policy.

[#Labor](https://werd.io/tag/Labor)

\[[Link](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/12/companies-issuing-rto-mandates-lose-their-best-talent-study/)\]