More stories

  • in

    The RTO Tug-of-War: Large Employers Grapple with Return-to-Office Mandates

    The post-pandemic return to work continues to be a battleground, with large employers caught in the middle.
    A recent trend – Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates – is seeing companies require employees to return to the physical office for a set number of days per week. While some see this as a necessary step to rebuild company culture and collaboration, others worry it disregards the benefits of remote work and risks driving away valuable talent.
    Many companies are implementing Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates, requiring employees to spend a certain number of days in the office. Here are some notable examples:
    Technology Giants

    Amazon: Requires most corporate employees to be in the office at least three days a week.
    Apple: Mandates employees to work in the office three days a week.
    Meta (formerly Facebook): Requires employees to be in the office at least three days a week.
    Microsoft: Has a hybrid work model but encourages employees to be in the office for in-person collaboration.

    Other Industries

    Disney: Has implemented an RTO policy for its corporate employees.
    Barclays: A UK-based bank, has mandated a return to the office for most employees.
    Asos: An online fashion retailer, has introduced an RTO policy for its staff.
    UPS and Boeing: Have implemented strict five-day-a-week RTO mandates.

    The Push for In-Person:
    Proponents of RTO mandates argue that in-person interaction fosters creativity, innovation, and a stronger sense of team spirit. Companies like Dell point to the value of spontaneous brainstorming sessions and mentoring opportunities that are difficult to replicate virtually. Additionally, concerns exist around maintaining company culture and ensuring effective communication when employees are scattered geographically. However, a recent report by the Stanford Graduate School of Business suggests that these concerns may be overstated, with studies showing that remote teams can be just as effective at collaboration when equipped with the right tools and processes.
    The Employee Exodus:
    However, many employees, especially those who thrived during the remote work era, are pushing back. A recent study by Time Magazine cited research showing a significant exodus of senior employees from companies with strict RTO policies. These employees cite factors like work-life balance, childcare challenges, and increased productivity at home as reasons for preferring remote work options. This talent drain can be particularly damaging for technology companies, which rely heavily on skilled professionals.
    Companies that lose talent due to RTO face significant consequences:

    Loss of institutional knowledge: Departing employees take valuable experience and knowledge with them, impacting the company’s expertise and innovation.
    Difficulty filling open positions: Finding skilled replacements in a competitive job market can be challenging, especially if the company’s RTO policy is seen as inflexible.
    Decreased morale and productivity: The remaining workforce might experience lower morale and decreased productivity due to feeling undervalued or facing increased workloads.

    Companies like Buffer and Automattic, once known for their successful remote-first models, saw significant talent departures after implementing RTO mandates. These cases highlight the potential cost of disregarding employee preferences for work flexibility.
    Finding a Middle Ground:
    The answer may lie in a hybrid model that allows employees to split their time between home and the office. This approach offers a compromise, balancing the benefits of in-person interaction with the flexibility and productivity gains of remote work. However, crafting a successful hybrid model requires careful consideration of factors like role requirements, team dynamics, and employee well-being.
    Microsoft offers a flexible approach, allowing employees to choose their work style based on their role and needs. They have designated “focus days” where in-person collaboration is encouraged, but also allow for significant remote work flexibility. Microsoft emphasizes clear communication and utilizes technology to ensure all employees, regardless of location, feel connected and included.
    The Future of Work:
    Who will thrive? Companies that can strike a balance between remote work flexibility and the benefits of in-person interaction are likely to succeed in the future.
    The future of work is not an either/or situation regarding WFH or RTO. A flexible, hybrid model that prioritizes employee well-being and fosters a productive and inclusive work environment is likely to be the most successful approach for companies in the years to come.
    Share this post: More

  • in

    Insider Tips for Marketing, Business, Sales, and Advertising Professionals

    So you’ve nearly got your degree and you’re ready to make waves in the world of marketing, advertising, business or sales. You’re familiar with concepts like market segmentation and you can break down the pillars of supply chain management and you’ve watched movies like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Social Network more times than you can remember.

    What you don’t learn in school or movies, however, is what moves to make as you attempt to breach the world of business and how to make a career for yourself. What we mean by “moves” are the decisions you make regarding the way you present yourself, how you choose to grow and learn, and the mindset you carry with you into your endeavors. 

    With so much to keep in mind when making this major leap into the professional world, it can become difficult to choose what advice to follow and what to ignore. Instead of leaving it up to AI software and chatbots, we decided to host a virtual event with some real-life employees about what their marketing, advertising, business, and sales departments look for in a candidate. 

    In our Job Search 101 virtual event, we spoke with Kalina Popova, a Campus Manager at Dell, Madison Ahmadi, a Talent Acquisition Partner at Expedia, Jennifer Voss, the Director of Early Careers Talent Acquisition at Visa, and Tangela Woodley, a Talent Acquisition, Marketing, & Digital Early Careers Manager at L’Oréal. In our conversations, the panelists reveal the tips and tricks needed to succeed in the world of marketing, advertising, business, and sales.

    [embedded content]

    Don’t Limit Yourself

    One of the great things about the marketing and business industry is the variety of roles that exist within it. You could be a copywriter making taglines, a graphic designer creating brand logos, an account manager closing deals and finding new clients, and a whole lot more. 

    This being the case, it is critical to keep an open mind when you’re trying to decide what kind of role best fits you. In our conversations with experts, Tangela Woodley from L’Oréal sheds some light on just how many different opportunities exist within their marketing department.

    From analytics to creative, the world of marketing has opportunities for people interested in all kinds of things, especially at L’Oréal. So when you’re preparing to make your foray into the marketing, business, advertising and sales world, it’s important that you don’t pigeonhole yourself into one subcategory or another!

    Follow the 5 Dimensions of Potential

    While every company and its employee expectations are bound to be different, L’Oréal has a specific set of criteria that candidates can keep in mind wherever they apply. L’Oréal calls it the five dimensions of potential and with these rules, you can better your chances of succeeding in the world of business.

    Whether it’s learning agility or your judgment and decision-making skills, L’Oréal’s Five Dimensions of Potential would apply to numerous top-tier companies and what they’re looking for in employees.

    Leaders > Participants

    As a company that specializes in helping early-career candidates and college students find jobs, we have seen young professionals make a lot of mistakes. One of the big ones we’ve seen them make is signing up for a club or organization just to get it on your resume.

    It doesn’t take much to sign up for a group and show up to a couple of meetings. What does take some effort is actively contributing to these groups and taking on leadership or executive roles. This is something to keep in mind when you mention your involvement in groups and extracurriculars in your applications.

    Our suggestion is to be proactive. When you join a group, don’t just be a bystander! Make sure you’re participating and doing things that give you stuff to talk about later on when you start applying for jobs. If you have an idea, speak up! If you feel inspired to take on a position.

    You Gotta Have Grit

    A lot of people outside the marketing and sales industries perceive it as this glamorous world with photo shoots, hot-shot business people, and high-profile deals. What you don’t see are the challenges and obstacles that marketing professionals face on a daily basis.

    Any marketing veteran you meet is likely to have just as many stories about unhappy clients and discouraging rejections as they are to have stories about massive wins and incredibly successful campaigns. And that’s just a part of the business.

    This being the case, it is critical that anyone trying to enter the marketing, business, and sales worlds develops a tough chin and plenty of grit.

    While Kalina’s anecdote relates to sales, the same thing goes with marketing, advertising, and business. What if you pitch a marketing campaign to a client and they don’t like it? Or propose a solution to your boss that he chops down? Having the grit to face this type of rejection and come back stronger is what will make you successful in the long run.

    Take Advantage of Resources

    One thing that every one of our panelists in our recent Job Search 101 virtual event agreed upon is the importance of utilizing the resources at your disposal. If you go to college, whether it’s community or Ivy League, chances are there is a career office working to connect the student body with potential employers.

    In these offices, work has been done to establish relationships. All you need to do is take advantage of it.

    These types of resources are oftentimes free and extremely beneficial, so there really isn’t any reason not to take advantage of them.

    Looking for another free resource you can use to score the job of your dreams? Create your account with WayUp and start browsing open roles today or head over to our blog for more career tips and job-search advice! Watch the full session here.  More