Workers Spend $561 a Month on RTO

Fortune

Employees are spending the equivalent of a month’s groceries on the return to office — and growing more resentful than ever, according to a new survey. Read more on Fortune.

Transcript

00:00In the aftermath of the global pandemic, remote work, which was once a widespread necessity,

00:04is becoming increasingly rare. A recent survey from BetterUp shows that the number of primarily

00:09remote roles have been cut in half, with one in four organizations shifting to in-person work to

00:14improve quote, connection and culture. As more companies implement return to office mandates,

00:19opinions are divided on whether the shift is truly beneficial for both employees and

00:24organizations. Fortune took a deep dive on the hidden price tag of the workplace trend.

00:29A survey of 1,400 U.S. employees who were required to return to office found significant disruptions

00:35to work-life balance. Many workers reported higher levels of stress, burnout and a growing

00:40intention to leave their jobs. Employees also indicated that their trust in the company had

00:45decreased and workplace culture seemed to suffer. According to Gallup, even commutes as short as 30

00:50minutes are linked to increased stress, while commutes 45 minutes or more can negatively

00:54affect both physical and mental well-being. The financial cost of return to office is another key

00:59concern. The average worker spends around $561 a month on transportation, child care and other

01:06support services just to be present at work, equivalent to the cost of a month's groceries for

01:10a two-person household, according to Zipia. For many employees, this adds a significant financial

01:16burden on top of the stress and time lost to commuting. Despite these costs, proponents of

01:21in-person work argue that it fosters stronger collaboration, improves company culture and

01:26strengthens relationship among colleagues. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, for example,

01:31has repeatedly emphasized that in-person work is essential for building connections within teams

01:36and ensuring long-term success. Other major companies, such as Disney, Google, IBM and Meta,

01:42have adopted similar return to office policies, while Amazon is pushing for a full five-day

01:47in-office requirement by 2025. However, critics of return to office argue that these benefits may

01:53not be as clear-cut as some believe. Research suggests that remote workers are often just as

01:58productive, if not more so, than their in-office counterparts. One study found that remote workers

02:03tend to give more total hours to their companies, challenging the notion that remote work results in

02:08lower productivity or commitment. So what's the best approach? Experts suggest that offering a

02:13hybrid model, a mix of in-office and remote work, may be the ideal solution meeting the needs of

02:18both employers and employees. As companies continue to navigate the shift from remote work to in-office

02:24mandates, the future of work remains uncertain. The challenge will be finding a balance that

02:28supports both productivity and workplace culture, while also considering the financial and emotional

02:33well-being of workers. The solution may lie in a flexible, hybrid approach that adapts the changing

02:38needs in the workforce.

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