Forced RTO: Surprising Lessons from Newest Data

Flex Index

While headlines focus on high-profile CEOs demanding office returns, new research reveals that 68% of companies are maintaining flexibility and significantly outperforming their peers.

MIT Sloan Management Review columnist Brian Elliott returns with fresh data that might surprise leaders still considering mandatory office returns. From breakthrough productivity studies to remarkable retail success stories, the evidence shows flexibility isn't just surviving—it's thriving.

Watch the full interview to discover:

• The real numbers behind flexibility adoption: Despite headline-grabbing mandates, only 12% of CEOs plan stricter RTO policies this year—even with potential recession concerns.

• New productivity research from the U.K.: Government workers with flexibility showed 12% higher productivity on average, with some achieving gains as high as 25%.

• Stock market outperformance data: University of Melbourne research shows companies with flexible policies generate "alpha"—unexpectedly beating market expectations and peers.

• Neiman Marcus Group's remarkable results: How pairing flexibility with quarterly accountability achieved 75% employee retention (versus typical 75% turnover) and sold at twice the profitability multiple of competitors like Nordstrom.

• Flexibility for frontline workers: How retail employees gained schedule flexibility and remote customer management days, proving flexibility isn't just for knowledge workers.

• Political climate impacts: Why the Trump administration's federal RTO demands are creating talent opportunities for flexible companies like Verizon targeting AT&T workers.

• The resilience imperative: Why building trust and navigating uncertainty matters more than office mandates in today's economic climate.

• The critical question for leaders: Before implementing any RTO policy, ask "What problem am I trying to solve?"—and whether blanket mandates are really the best solution.

While some leaders chase headlines with mandates, the most successful organizations are doubling down on what the research consistently shows works—strategic flexibility paired with outcome-focused accountability.