JPMorgan's RTO Desk Dilemma
Plus, Phil Kirschner launches "The Workline" newsletter for workplace transformation insights
👋 Happy Tuesday! New data out from Stanford's Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) revealed that just 12% of the executives that currently have hybrid or remote workers report plans for an RTO mandate in the year ahead. Many of these mandates don’t involve a full return to onsite work—in fact, more than a quarter of planned RTOs will require onsite work only 1 to 4 days a week.
In this week’s edition:
🏦 JPMorgan’s RTO Chaos
📊 Most Flexible US States
📰 Workline by Phil Kirschner
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THIS WEEK’S FLEX FOCUS 🔍
JPMorgan's RTO Mandate Creates Chaos, Not Collaboration
Jamie Dimon's five-day return-to-office policy at JPMorgan Chase seems to have stumbled out of the gate.
Despite championing office work as essential for teamwork and innovation, Dimon's policy has ironically forced teams to scatter throughout office spaces hunting for available seats. Employees report arriving an hour early to secure workstations, with some resorting to makeshift reservation tactics using personal items or labeled "paper tents."
Beyond the desk shortage, workers complain about noisy environments, unreliable Wi-Fi, and the uncomfortable presence of visibly ill colleagues "coughing and sneezing all day."
While JPMorgan executives herald the benefits of in-person work culture, the reality on the ground suggests a disconnect between corporate ideology and practical implementation. For America's largest bank, the return to pre-pandemic work arrangements is proving that the office infrastructure itself may not be ready for full occupancy.
FLEX WORK QUICK HITS 💥
Stay ahead of the curve with our curated roundup of the trending flexible work stories making waves right now. Here's what you need to know 👇
Business Insider: Middle managers are struggling to navigate tensions between leadership's push for RTO and Gen Z employees' resistance to full-time office work.
KCRA: CA Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring state workers to return to the office four days a week beginning July 1.
Fortune: Deloitte is now incorporating office attendance into performance reviews for its U.S. tax practice, requiring staff to be in-person 2-3 days weekly at offices or client sites.
HR Today: A new FTI Consulting survey reveals that 70% of U.S. remote and hybrid workers would likely seek new employment if required to return to office full-time.
STAT OF THE WEEK 📈
Most Flexible US States
The West and Northeast United States dominated the most flexible states list in our Flex Report for Q3 2024. Massachusetts held the top spot with 89% of firms offering work location flexibility, while Washington and Oregon followed closely at 88% each.
California ranked fifth overall with 86% of companies offering flexibility, making Governor Newsom's recent executive order requiring state workers to return to the office four days a week particularly noteworthy as it contrasts with the private sector's approach in the state.
Illinois was the sole entrant in the top 10 from the Midwest, with 84% of companies offering work location flexibility.
FLEXPERT INSIGHTS 🧠
"The Workline" - Your Guide Through Modern Workplace Complexity
In today's landscape of clickbait headlines about hybrid work and AI, finding actionable workplace guidance is challenging. Cue Phil Kirschner's new newsletter, "The Workline" – your essential resource for cutting through the noise.
Phil Kirschner brings over 20 years of experience as a workplace transformation expert who's guided executives at McKinsey, WeWork, JLL, and Credit Suisse. Phil offers something unique: practical, cross-functional insights that connect HR, IT, and Real Estate/Facilities Management.
Subscribe to "The Workline" today and join Phil on a path toward a more effective, human-centered approach to work!
FLEX PERSPECTIVES 🎙️
ICYMI: Building Effective People Analytics: LinkedIn’s Success Story | Shujaat Ahmad
In this episode of Flex Perspectives, Rob Sadow sat down with Shujaat Ahmad, former Director of People Analytics - Future of Work at LinkedIn to discusses the role of People Analytics in shaping the future of work.
Check out the full episode to learn:
Understanding the vision behind People Analytics
How the impact of the pandemic shifted LinkedIn’s approach to people
Practical tips for People Analytics team structure, key enablers, pitfalls to avoid, and measuring effectiveness
Also available on Apple Podcasts.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT ✨
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ONE MORE THING 1️⃣
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