Resistance to Return-to-Work: A Symptom of Society’s Deeper Malaise

Photo Credit: Irina Leoni, Unsplash

In this article, I aim to explore the broader context surrounding employee resistance to Return to Office (RTO) policies. By examining the issue within a framework of sustainable infrastructure for the well-being of society, we can gain a deeper understanding of the root causes and propose long-term solutions. Just as treating a sudden skin rash with a superficial cream application fails to address its underlying cause, it is crucial to delve beneath the surface and consider broader lifestyle changes to effectively tackle the challenges posed by RTO policies.

Let me start with a simple principle for sustainable work voiced by Mr. Ashoke Chatterjee, a renowned thought leader in design, development, and social issues, during the deliberations of a think tank we both belong to. While discussing unemployment and how market-driven, technology-enabled economies are creating stress, injustice, and inhumanity in society, Mr. Chatterjee, who has served in various developmental institutions in India and overseas, pointed out that we need to reimagine a future where people can work close to where they live. He emphasized that one of the key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is the desire of rural folk to find work closer to their villages rather than migrating to cities.

The simple truth he laid bare is- we need to build an alternate economy. that is founded on caring for people’s primary need to live in an environment that nurtures their well being.

Returning to the current resistance to RTO policies, several inferences can be drawn from Mr. Chatterjee’s comment:

1. The desire to build a nurturing home and live within a supportive community is a foundational instinct that drives people in their choice of living arrangements.
2. The market- and technology-driven economy has often failed to facilitate access to nurturing homes and supportive communities, leading to a decline in public health and fostering resentment. This has contributed to the dehumanization of individuals, who may feel reduced to mere cogs in a wheel or become disillusioned with the system entirely.

The pandemic served as a natural intervention to mitigate the disruptions that humans have caused in nature’s foundational principles of living in harmony. It offered a firsthand experience and a glimpse into an alternate reality where hope, healing, and thriving are possible.

During a community dialogue in Mumbai, which I had the opportunity to moderate, a senior executive of a global corporation asked for my perspective on the impact of remote work on a company’s responsibility to foster mentoring, cooperation, and productivity.

My response was, “Your question is framed from a company mindset centered on productivity and profit. However, employees’ thinking revolves around the well-being of themselves and their families. The pandemic has shown them a path to a desirable future, and their aspirations call for reimagining how companies conduct business, focusing on well-being rather than just productivity and profit. The genie is out of the bottle, and it cannot be put back in.”

Recently, I came across a survey report indicating that 73% of Amazon workers are considering quitting after the implementation of a 5-day in-office mandate. This information triggered a déjà vu moment, taking me back to 2013 when I was interviewed by The Registry, a Bay Area publication representing the real estate industry. The topic of discussion was the future of work, and I shared my vision: “Perhaps there should be no dedicated workplace at all. Instead, income-producing work – whatever it may be at any given moment – should be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of daily life, functioning in and around personal demands.”

To provoke further thought, I added, “Large working complexes will become pyramids for dead people. I’m not making a judgment; I am merely observing. These complexes are fading symbols of an era that will soon be a bygone era. The ideal environment is one where people don’t have to commute to a workplace, but rather, the workplace is distributed throughout the community.”

Having offered a fresh perspective on understanding the current resentment against returning to traditional work environments, I would like to articulate a glimpse of the future I envision today. This vision is driven by my commitment to reimagining a future centered on caring and sharing.

The current structures of corporate, market-driven, technology-enabled governance are showing signs of strain. To pave the way for a more promising future, we must cultivate imagination and skills in future generations. By doing so, we can foster communities that support small enterprises, serve local communities, and create opportunities for austere yet joyful living that prioritize our fundamental need for nurturing and caring, rather than feeding our cravings for indulgence and consumption.

As a stark illustration of the deeper issues underlying employee resistance to return-to-work policies, consider this disturbing news from California: A sixty-year-old Wells Fargo Bank employee was recently found dead in her cubicle on the third floor of the Tempe, Arizona branch, four days after she had clocked into the office in a cubicle not located in the main hallway. This tragic incident serves as a powerful reminder of the potential consequences of ignoring the broader societal issues at play and the urgent need for a more caring and nurturing approach to work environments.