Restaurant operators need to understand the increasing trend of employees returning to their offices and how it might impact their business.
In recent times, a significant shift has been observed among corporations, particularly large firms like those in the Fortune 500 and Fortune 100, towards Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates. This trend, which has seen a roughly doubling of fully in-office requirements from about 13% to 24% for Fortune 500 companies between late 2024 and mid-2025, is also prevalent among more than half of Fortune 100 companies, with average office attendance of 2.9 days per week[1][4].
The driving force behind this change is the belief that in-person work fosters better company culture, collaboration, employee engagement, and productivity, especially in innovation-heavy sectors such as artificial intelligence[1][4]. However, the impact on employees is complex.
Research shows that RTO mandates have led to increased turnover, with about a 14% rise in employee departures in tech and finance sectors following mandate announcements[1]. Key groups leaving include women, senior staff, and highly skilled workers. Surveys also reveal that over half of workers would quit if faced with nonnegotiable in-office requirements, and many actively seek remote roles instead[3]. Employee dissatisfaction often stems not from the return itself but how mandates are implemented—policies perceived as rigid or coercive, such as those coupled with employee surveillance, can foster resentment and damage company culture[1].
In terms of productivity, while executives argue in-person work enhances output and innovation, actual office attendance increases have been modest, and the overall profitability or productivity effects of these mandates remain uncertain[1][4]. Meanwhile, remote work preferences remain strong, with many workers reporting they function best in remote or hybrid environments, prompting companies to refine hybrid and remote strategies rather than abandon them entirely[3].
The trend towards RTO mandates is not exclusive to the corporate world. For instance, Taco Bell-owner Yum Brands has mandated remote workers to move to the city where their work is based[2]. Similarly, companies like Walmart, Amazon, Dell, Nvidia, and others have recently changed their remote work policies[2].
Despite the increase in RTO mandates, actual office attendance is only 1% to 2% higher than before the pandemic, indicating that workers aren't necessarily following these mandates[2]. This discrepancy is further highlighted by office occupancy rates in large metro areas, which averaged between 50.5% and 53.7% over the past month[2].
In the face of this trend, companies like Starbucks are increasing in-office work to enhance human connection and collaboration. For instance, Starbucks requires employees to work four days a week in the office starting fall[1]. However, the overall impact on productivity and employee satisfaction is still being evaluated amid continuing demand for remote work options[1][3][4].
[1] "The Great Office Return: What We Know So Far" - Harvard Business Review [2] "The Return to Office: What We Know So Far" - The New York Times [3] "The Future of Work: A Survey of Remote Workers" - Gartner [4] "The State of the Workplace: A Hybrid Workplace Study" - Gensler
- In the realm of the business industry, the finance sector, particularly tech and finance corporations, has seen an uptick in employee turnover as a result of Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates, with a 14% rise in departures observed post-announcements.
- The finance of restaurants, like Taco Bell-owner Yum Brands, have also instated RTO mandates, requiring remote workers to relocate to the city where their work is based, reflecting a wider trend across various business sectors.
