#returntooffice

I have heard from multiple people that some groups are not having to go into the office four days a week in a month. TSG and some folks in TS are exempt. While this is great for them, what the actual F. This place just wants us gone. I won't say anything at work as I honestly think "good for them" but I'm pi---d for myself.

JF talked abt RTO to counter China's 996 culture... 9am to 9pm; 6 days/ week. Meanwhile, Ford land's facilities people are busy harrasing employees by pasting "clean this space" notes on non-assigned cubes. Hello ---- who is supposed to do it... space is not assigned to anyone. They seem to enjoy their new found policing authority !! Ford Land is responsible for lack of proper RTO planning. Rest rooms are mess. Garbage bins removed to reduce the workload. Cleaning personnel seen chit chatting near coffee machines most of the day. Ford Land is a mis-managed organizatioin. So much for Customer Focus and work ethics. They need to administer an employee survey dedicated for facilities related work-experience. Instead, Ford Land leaders come to townhalls Q&A, and brag about their great RTO execution.

https://www.rcrwireless.com/20250814/business/att-ceo-memo

Kagan: Thoughts on AT&T CEO memo on loyalty between workers and company

Anyone read this B.S. Article from RCR wireless Jeff... He forgot to mention that AT&T pays it's workers peanuts compared to the Mag-7. Mag-7 may be asking their workers to RTO 3 to 5 days a week because they actually pay a reasonable salary and bonus to their employees compared to what AT&T pays. At AT&T, employees are literally sitting on the floor or on stairway steps in the office due to decrease in office space.
The author of this article needs a reality check and not comparing Apples to Apples but Apples to Garbage.

RTO- it’s a thing…… I hadn’t heard it until today’s Insurance call.

This nonsense of listening to leadership tell us why it’s “good for collaboration” - yet THEY live a time zone away…..? I’m all for it - if they move to Columbus and come to the office with us.

And - can someone please them how to say Gahanna?

If the RTO 3 Hunger games were not enough to pi-s off people lets introduce RTO 3.1 Hunger Games and remove about 1500 seats and close off Rotunda Center and see what happens on Monday Morning. GREAT MOVE FORD.

Unpopular opinion, I know but it is the truth. ElCrazio, Gumbo and the loser "executive" squad are looking for targets. Do not become one. News is that other goals do not matter and doing extraordinary work will not save one from termination if they do not meet the RTO goal.

Mark my word. The 5 day mandatory bs isn't working and Tell Dell clearly stated that. The building I report to has it's share of people in there but by 11-11:30am, the place empties out and is a ghost town lol.

A lot of teams in the building I report to, are global and/or country wide so, 99% of people even in the office are alone anyways so, what's the incentive or point in staying if NOBODY on your actual team is even there lol? How can you collaborate with those who live in other states, or countries, in person? Oh right, by TEAMS meetings. Meetings that can be done... at home!

I'd be willing to bet that between 75-90% of people "coffee badge" - meaning they go to the office, grab some coffee and/or food, maybe take a dump and then go straight back home.

Are any of you not coming in because it will disrupt your second job? I have Webex calls with my other job during the week that I can’t do in the office. Is there any advice for how to get around this? If I have to come in I am considering booking space away from others and hotspotting to my phone while I take the calls.

Heard last week that office was so packed people were sitting on filing cabinets to RTO

LL5 and higher are staying in office and engaged in office all day. However, LL6s are closest leadership level that influences GSR staff. LL6s prefer to stay home and do not like RTO, so they come to office for badge swipes, attend a selected meeting for visibility and then go home. To rationalize their desire to stay home, they coach staff to ensure 3 badge swipes per week for RTO; and communicate that it is OK to go home after badge swipes. LL6 people leaders do not even see need for in-person conversations with staff. Senior Leaders want RTO to improve "How to work" and collaborate for "Horizontal Interaction" ; but intent is getting distorted at LL6 level. LL6 level seem to be disconnected in overall big picture, and end up reacting to Manager assignments, when the issues go to Manager level. Instead of providing "Bridge" role hoizontally, they live in "silos" managing vertically within assigned chimney. Culture seem to reward heroes who put out "Fires" in the Chimney, which these heroes could have avoided. As an outcome, LL6 rank is filled with "Firefighters".

How embarrassing. Back in 2022-2024, we called out other companies requiring everyone back in the office. Especially cringeworthy - “AT&T follows Amazon in cracking down on remote work with 5 days in office mandate”. And now look at us.

Samsung has been making cuts left and right. RTO is just another way to push people out, either make them quit on their own or create an excuse to let them go. Either way, it’s a win for them. A cheap, quiet way to reduce the workforce.

It’s by design. More control, less communication, insane workloads, unrealistic expectations, and requirements few can actually meet. And it will escalate. Because RTO isn’t here to make Ford a leading company. It’s not here to retain talent, boost efficiency, or foster collaboration toward some grand vision. It’s here to make you quit, so they can get rid of you on the cheap.

Returning to office life just feels like a huge step backward. The noise, the constant interruptions, the long commute just to sit in a chair for eight hours under bad lighting trying not talk to anybody. I get more done at home in less time and without the headache.

https://share.google/dSOtmjb6ZVCG7XHaE

I got the second email about RTO. Although I have been to the office 14 days in July, the email says “you have not improved your on-site presence”. Then it threatens me that I will be subject to discipline up to termination.

It is really upsetting to get an email like that after I tried so hard to go to the office the whole month. The only week I was not there for three days a week was due to sickness. And my average per week in July is 2.8 days!

What kind of je-k company send emails like that to employees working hard getting extra things done and managing two hours’ commute every day?! What do they expect?!

Let's consolidate everything we know in this thread. Let's start with this Tue/Wed/Thur mandatory in the office update.

Can we have this thread just to vent about RTO?

Anyone get an Accommodation Approved yet?

Microsoft is preparing to tighten its return-to-office (RTO) policy, with a new mandate that could go into effect as early as January 2026 for employees at its Redmond, Washington headquarters. The potential shift would require most staff to be in the office at least three days per week, a departure from the more flexible arrangements introduced in 2020 that have, in practice, allowed widespread remote work.

The company has not finalized the policy yet, but an announcement could come as soon as September, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Implementation timelines may vary across different Microsoft offices.

This move would bring Microsoft in closer alignment with other major tech firms that have already adopted stricter RTO guidelines. Amazon, for example, now requires in-person attendance five days a week, and AT&T has issued similar mandates. Meta and Google, on the other hand, generally require three days in the office, a model Microsoft appears to be considering.

The renewed focus on office attendance coincides with increased performance expectations inside Microsoft. Leadership has signaled a clear shift in tone over the past year, emphasizing accountability and operational rigor. Thousands of employees were let go in recent months as part of a broader performance crackdown, and the company has introduced a more aggressive performance improvement plan designed to phase out low performers more quickly.

Top executives have echoed this message internally. CFO Amy Hood recently told staff that the upcoming fiscal year would require more “intensity,” echoing earlier remarks from CEO Satya Nadella calling for greater “dedication, drive, and hard work.” These statements suggest that Microsoft sees in-person collaboration as a lever to maintain or boost performance in a high-pressure environment.

Ironically, Microsoft has been one of the leading providers of tools that support hybrid and remote work. Its messaging in the past highlighted flexibility as a way to reduce costs and improve employee satisfaction. The fact that it is now considering a firmer stance reflects changing norms in the tech industry, where the pendulum is swinging back toward office-centric cultures.

For now, no decisions have been finalized. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company is reviewing its hybrid work guidelines but did not comment further.

In short, while the flexible work era is not entirely over, the direction is clear: Microsoft is recalibrating its expectations, and a more consistent office presence is likely part of that new normal.

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-considering-stricter-rto-policy-2025-8

Old office space on closed, new building open. If RTO is forced for all, will everyone fit in the new space?

If its happening for everyone, when?

Genuinely wish best of luck to those who will have to find desks/parking/meeting rooms every morning from now on. Gonna really maximize productivity to have people tripping over each other in the hallways and hearing a dozen separate meetings going on in the same open office area.

IN the EXI town hall, it was announced everyone's RTO.

My onsite take on the RTO being one month away .... anyone else notice assigned cubes are filling up again.

Just wondering if its only me?

Walter thought he was going to get a big pop on the RTO announcement and sold a boatload of stock. Meanwhile Rick is offering us less than inflation laughing that we have to pay more to commute

If there is management discretion on how they "punish" those not adhering to RTO requirements, how do they prove its not discriminatory? Seems unfair and biased if they dont apply consistent rules to all. Communicate with one another and lawyer up!

If you don’t like it find employment elsewhere.

It’s time to go back to the way things were before Covid. Everyone in the office everyday. No more games and slacking off at home costing your coworkers and the business. No more mid-day golf lessons, lunches out with friends, Costco runs, and at-home daycare.

It’s time to tighten up and go to the office to be with your coworkers. Just like it was before. EVERYONE in the office EVERYDAY again.

Every second post is about RTO. Enough is enough.

Namely, driving out the target number of employees?

You heard it here first. If you dont want to commit to it, take EOI before they let you go with no package.

It's not ideal, but I can manage it. The moment it becomes four or five, I'm out of here. I will keep my options open. I will save. I will network. I will do whatever it takes to be able to quit the second they announce anything beyond three days. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

August 2, 2025 — Austin, TX

In a surprising twist, tech firm Dell, once firm in its stance on return-to-office (RTO) mandates, is now quietly walking back its hardline policy after internal backlash and a wave of near-resignations.

Earlier this year, Dell made headlines with its controversial announcement: employees who refused to return to the office would be ineligible for promotions and salary increases. The move was intended to “reignite collaboration and innovation.”
But insiders say the reset didn’t go as planned.

Talent Drain Threatens Stability
Within weeks of the announcement, Dell’s HR department was inundated with exit interviews and internal transfer requests. Several high-performing teams reportedly saw attrition rates spike, and recruiters struggled to fill roles as candidates balked at the rigid RTO requirement.

The Quiet Pivot
Now, in a move that’s raising eyebrows across the industry, Dell is quietly granting remote work exceptions to hundreds of employees, particularly those in engineering, design, and data science roles. These exceptions are being processed discreetly, often without formal documentation, to avoid undermining the original policy.
“It’s a silent reversal,” said one senior manager who requested anonymity. “We were told to enforce the RTO rule strictly. Now we’re being told to ‘use discretion’ which basically means keep the talent happy and don’t let them walk.”

Mixed Signals and Morale Issues
The inconsistency has created confusion and resentment among employees who complied with the RTO mandate. Some feel penalized for following the rules, while others enjoy remote privileges without consequence.
“Dell wanted to send a message,” said one employee. “They did. But now the message is: if you’re valuable enough, the rules don’t apply.”

What’s Next for Dell?
Industry analysts say Dell’s situation is emblematic of a broader tension in corporate America, balancing productivity, flexibility, and employee retention in a post-pandemic world.

As Dell quietly rewrites its playbook, one thing is clear: the return-to-office debate is far from over.

So as employees we will have a dashboard to check and monitor our compliance with the new policy. Does anyone know how it works? Is it a classic clock in /clock out which is only accessible in a Medtronic office? Is it as simple as accruing 32 such hours each week minus whatever you take as PTO? I imagine we will find a few hacks in the beginning…. This should be fun!!!!

If you live super close to an office then just go badge in and go back home lol... But if you have damn near an hour commute? Find a medical issue you MIGHT have and have your manager submit a medical leave to HR for you.

I genuinely did have back issues - sciatica - and it was bad. I told my manager and got a 6m medical excuse to not go into office. No proof of this issue. No documentation or dorcotrs notes or whatever. I just explained it to him via email and bo-m.

BUT, you have to ask for it and make the time period reasonable. I asked for 4-6 months but was approved for 6 months. Anything over 12 months will require more.

maybe you broke your leg or maybe you need to tend to an elder, or maybe you had ACL surgery and can't walk... or maybe xyz.... No proof is needed for any of this as long as your ask is for under 12 months.

Medical "leave" in this instance simply means you are unable to drive to the office. it does NOT mean you can't work :)

Not saying to do this but, i'm also not saying you shouldn't.

Yes, I already posted this but I went off on a rant and forgbot to write about WHY I think this will happen lol...

My own opinion is that the 5 days/week RTO cr-p was implemented because the VP of Sales decided it was a "good idea" to do last August. Thanks buddy. Dell then decided to follow suit for a few reasons.

If they are only monitoriting badge swipes - which is literally ALL they are doing - but go on to say they don't require anybody to be IN office for any set amount of time... Then why even bother?

I'm sure they are well aware a lot of people just swipe and go home without even going into the building - I sure af do lol - but, the execs are going to get tired of monitoring somethign so trivial. At the end of the day, if everything is going smoothinly financially, business wise, and whatever else... it doesn't matter if people are going in 5x or 1x per week.

If the directors/sr. directors/execs are happy then that's all that matters. Badge swipes doesn't = better performance or more money. It does equal unhappy employees being forced to drive into an office and still go on Teams meetings because their entire damn team is spread across the country, or world.

My opinion and guess is that this was done in hopes to force people to quit. Nothing more and nothing less. Now they are laying off again (as usual...) which to me means, not enough people actually quit and they have no choice. Not that they weren't going to anyways but, they are 100% trying to force people to quit versus having to lay off. Those who quit aren't eligible for a severance or unemployment benefits so... It's cheaper for Dell to implement these things and not have to pay out.

I'm betting money, especially after the horendous Tell Dell results lol! that they will scale it back to 3 days/week and not monitor jack sh-t. Mark my word, this whole thing will be a thing of the past by January at the latest.

My own opinion is that the 5 days/week RTO cr-p was implemented because the VP of Sales decided it was a "good idea" to do last August. Thanks buddy. Dell then decided to follow suit for a few reasons.

A) They are paying a lot of rent, elec bills, etc... for buildings to be empty - so they want to feel as if they aren't just wasting money on empty buildings.

B) Dell wants to be under 80k employees at some point so, what better way to get people to quit than enforce this RTO policy? Along with no promotions if you aren't going into office and are full remote... They basically said FU-K YOU to anybody who isn't near an office. "Have fun never being promoted!" But, we aren't going to help you relocate either!

C) JC and MD are sheep. Lets be real though, MD isn't doing sh-t at Dell. He's the face and voice of Dell but ultimately, he's not REALLY calling the shots. Either way, they just do what everybody else is "doing" with no care in the world about the employees. Whatever makes them the most money is all they care about.

D) It's what "all the other companies are doing." - It'd be one thing if they required a 3 day in office week but 5? Dell has ALWAYS been 3 days in 2 days at home. Why 5 days all of a sudden? Where tf did that come from?