Indonesia and Hong Kong are leading the charge for full-time RTO mandates
Strikingly, three in four employees with RTO mandates feel positively about them but that acceptance often depends on the overall employee experience. For most, collaboration is the leading driver: 56% say working together in person delivers better results. Other common reasons are a preference for working in the office (43%) and that the mandated RTO requirements are fairer for all employees (40%).
In contract, negative perceptions about office attendance mandates peak among employees who are dissatisfied with their office environment, suggesting that the quality of office experience is paramount to demonstrate the value of working from the office, especially in terms of productivity, teamwork, and individual comfort.
2. Great workplaces improve perceptions of RTO policy
Among APAC respondents who are satisfied with their workplace, 85% say their RTO policy has a positive impact on them.
3. The experience gap: What today’s offices are missing
Employees are generally satisfied with the core enablers of day-to-day work – securing workspace; sitting near their team; and accessing good natural light. Most also agree their work environment supports focus work, collaboration, productivity, and skill development, with opportunities to learn from colleagues.
Where workplaces fall short is in the more experiential aspects that can spark creativity and nurture connections. Employees flag the need for more inspiring environments; stronger support for wellbeing and recharging during the workday; and greater opportunities for socialising and engaging with colleagues to embrace the company culture. These elements can make office time more meaningful and differentiate workplace culture in the competition for talent.
Within the physical workplace, employees also report that wellbeing features need the most improvement – specifically, access to outdoor spaces such as roofs and gardens, sustainable design, and acoustic quality, all of which can influence whether time in the office feels energizing or draining.
CRE leaders must assess where the workforce feels least satisfied to create spaces that can encourage the innovation and sense of community that organizations want to achieve with RTO mandates.
