One Size RTO Won’t Fit All

As more organizations are calling their people back to the office, we’re seeing a return to the pre-COVID days of long commutes, fixed hours and reduced flexibility. While we can agree that being together has benefits, a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the right solution. Consider three different groups at different points in their careers:

• Early career professionals, many of whom missed out on in-person university classes because of the pandemic, wanting to learn from and by mentored by deeply skilled professionals in their field of choice while also building their professional and social network.

• Mid-career “sandwich generation” professionals who are juggling young families, aging parents and demanding but meaningful positions with their organizations.

• Later-career professionals who have deep relationships with people in their firms and have devoted countless hours to their career, their organizations and can see retirement on the horizon.

Return to the office mandates are likely to generate different responses. The policy solutions, as well as the spaces that support them, may look very different depending on where people are in their careers.

	Early career professionals are likely to be eager to be in the office but won’t benefit if senior colleagues and mentors are not in at the same time to teach them the things that AI can’t do. Consider establishing “office hours” where seasoned professionals can teach younger people their craft. Host office hours in Mentor Lounges where people can drop in, work, and learn. Mentor Lounges might include small teaching spaces, resource libraries with books and digital tools that help transmit institutional knowledge, and open work areas where small groups can work together and learn from each other. They could also include spaces to host gatherings for building connections and establishing a network of peers.
	Mid-career professionals may appreciate the opportunity to be at work and connect with colleagues, but don’t want to be pressed into a specific schedule. For them, drop-in Team Suites, comprised of unassigned desks, huddle rooms, and private spaces that are available at all hours, might be a great place to gather with their team, effectively exchange information, and then move into a private space for a few hours of uninterrupted work. With a smaller footprint, and higher potential utilization, Team Suites can be utilized by people who seek flexibility in their schedules and their workplace.
	Bringing senior people back to the office may require a different set of perks including commute support, fewer in-office days, and maybe even shorter work weeks. The value comes from these people transmitting decades of institutional knowledge to the next generation before retirement suggesting that open, flexible, and highly visible spaces are the key to that knowledge exchange.  The spaces for these folks may not look very different from a traditional office, or they may appreciate the choice of working in a Team Suite or Mentor Lounge.

Overall, trying this creative approach will help make your people feel seen and understood, while increasing their engagement with their work. 

Not sure where to start? Not sure where to start? Our team of workplace advisors can meet over coffee or a call to listen to your RTO concerns and define ways to get started. Please connect as any approach is a great approach.