Will More Employers Crack Down on RTO?
Plus, generative AI's impact on the real estate industry
👋 Happy Tuesday! As Amazon pushes for a five-day in-office work week, AWS CEO Matt Garman's blunt message to dissenters is clear: adapt or leave. While Garman claims most employees welcome the change, the growing backlash on social media tells a different story, hinting at a potential talent exodus and a reshaping of Amazon's workforce dynamics.
In this week’s edition:
🏢 Employers Tighten RTO Rules for 2025
🇨🇦 Canada Leads in Structured Hybrid
🤖 AI’s Impact on Real Estate
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THIS WEEK’S FLEX FOCUS 🔍
70% Of Employers To Crack Down On Remote Work In 2025
A new survey of employers undertaken by ResumeTemplates reveals that more companies plan to crack down on RTO mandates next year. The study found that three-quarters of companies struggle to enforce their RTO policies due to worker non-compliance. This has led some to implement stricter attendance tracking and link office presence to career advancement opportunities.
This approach to RTO enforcement has sparked discussions about workplace equality and management styles. Critics argue it could create barriers for certain groups of workers and potentially foster a toxic work environment characterized by mistrust and minimal compliance. Conversely, proponents suggest that in-office work enhances collaboration and strengthens team dynamics.
As the job market evolves, with over half of workers prioritizing flexibility, companies face the challenge of aligning their policies with talent attraction and retention strategies.
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 👇
WorkLife: Despite CEOs predicting the end of remote work, HR leaders argue it will persist, especially in smaller companies, highlighting a growing disconnect between executive expectations and workforce realities.
RFI: French video game giant Ubisoft faces a three-day strike over remote work policies, exacerbating existing challenges of poor sales and plummeting stock value.
Bloomberg: Stellantis reverses remote work policy, mandating three days in-office weekly following profit warning and management changes.
NY Times: Despite evidence supporting hybrid work benefits, some CEOs reject remote work, driven by skepticism towards research and a desire to return to pre-pandemic norms.
STAT OF THE WEEK 📈
Balancing Office & Home in the Great White North
One of the significant differences we’ve observed in the data regarding flexible work in Canada versus the U.S. is around Structured Hybrid work. Typically, this arrangement is associated with mostly larger companies, but in Canada, 67% of all firms prefer Structured Hybrid work.
Conversely, Canadian workers are far less likely to work entirely remotely, with just 17% of companies offering this arrangement versus 32% of American organizations.
FLEXPERT INSIGHTS 🧠
Is the Future of Workplace a Community?
WHAT'S YOUR WORK FIT? challenges traditional work notions by uniting business leaders, workplace innovators, hiring managers, and career seekers.
In "Is the Future of Workplace a Community?" host Dan Smolen and co-hosts Mark Gilbreath (LiquidSpace CEO) and Francis Saele (Mortevita Managing Principal) dive into community-centric work environments. They're joined by Gary A. Bolles, author of "The Next Rules of Work" and chair for the Future of Work at Singularity University, to dissect this pivotal workplace trend.
FLEX PERSPECTIVES 🎙️
ICYMI: How Generative AI is Reshaping Real Estate | Alex Wolkomir
In this throwback Flex Perspectives episode, Rob Sadow is joined by Alex Wolkomir, Partner at McKinsey & Company. A McKinsey & Company's Real Estate Practice leader, Alex specializes in leveraging digital and analytics for innovative products and operational models. Alex also contributes to shaping McKinsey & Company's approach to Generative AI in real estate for tangible business impact.
Listen in as Rob and Alex discuss:
Prime generative AI opportunities for real estate cost savings and revenue generation
Best practices for implementing AI effectively, with a clear vision and robust data practices
How to foster a culture that fully embraces and capitalizes on AI opportunities
Also available on Apple Podcasts.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT ✨
FOX Broadcasting Company, founded in 1986, is a commercial broadcast television network of Fox Corporation that provides entertainment, sports, local news, and unique programming to viewers in the United States. Corporate employees are expected to go into an office at least 3 days a week, including Monday and Thursday.
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