AT&T is taking a hard-line approach to employees who question the company’s return-to-office policy. The telecommunications giant earlier this year ended its previous hybrid work model and began requiring workers to return full-time.
“If a self-directed, virtual, or hybrid work schedule is essential for you to manage your career aspirations and life challenges, you will have a difficult time aligning your priorities with those of the company and the culture we aim to establish,” CEO John Stankey wrote in a memo to managers, according to HR Grapevine. The memo was, in part, a response to a recent company survey which found that although nearly 8 in 10 employees were committed to their work, overall engagement had declined. “I’m not surprised,” Stankey wrote in his memo. “We are midstream on a multiyear journey to build the company we want, not simply optimize the one we have.”
Some staff members have expressed frustration with the policy, especially those who showed they could be productive while working remotely during the pandemic. Others have adapted to the mandate, appreciating the clear expectations and in-person collaboration opportunities.
Large U.S. companies have implemented a variety of return-to-work policies after relaxing requirements during the pandemic. For example, Amazon called 350,000 employees back to the office full-time in January; JP Morgan Chase ended remote work in April; and IBM requires executives and managers to be in the office at least three days a week. However, some business leaders question strict policies like AT&T’s, especially when their competitors are more flexible.
“Management by fear eviscerates trust and can be a glide path to toxic behaviors that increase the risk of hostile-workplace claims,” said Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, an author and expert on workplace culture.
Last month, Founders Report identified several emerging return-to-office trends:
- Twenty-two percent of U.S. employees worked remotely in June, down slightly from a year earlier.
- Twenty-seven percent of companies will have returned to a fully in-person model by the end of 2025, while two-thirds will offer some level of flexibility.
- Sixty-four percent of employees would prefer remote or hybrid roles over working from the office every day.
- Three-quarters of companies achieve greater employee retention by allowing remote work.
- Six in 10 U.S. companies have formal policies requiring employees to work from the office a minimum number of days each week.
- One-quarter of executives, and 18 percent of HR professionals, admit they hoped some employees would voluntarily leave because of a return-to-office mandate.
Stankey’s memo also cited a cultural shift away from rewarding workers based simply on hierarchy and tenure. “We have consciously shifted away from some of these elements and toward a more market-based culture focused on rewarding capability, contribution, and commitment,” he wrote. “We run a dynamic, customer-facing business tackling large-scale, challenging initiatives. If the requirements dictated by this dynamic do not align to your personal desires, you have every right to find a career opportunity that is suitable to your aspirations and needs.”
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From: BenefitsPRO
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