Emma Jacobs and Anjli Raval’s Work & Careers article (February 17) on office attendance becoming a performance metric underscores a stark reality: companies aren’t just mandating a return to the office, they’re turning it into a corporate loyalty test.
But let’s be honest, employees aren’t resisting the office, they’re resisting outdated mandates that mistake visibility for value. The best companies don’t need attendance policies to force collaboration; they create workplaces where people want to show up because the time spent together is purposeful, not performative.
The workforce has changed. Top talent is asking: does coming into the office help me do my best work, or is this just a box to tick? If employers can’t answer that question convincingly, they shouldn’t be surprised when their best people vote with their feet.
Return-to-office policies that prioritise compliance over connection won’t just fail, they’ll push away the very talent companies are trying to retain.
The real conversation isn’t about enforcing office mandates. It’s about reimagining work in a way that values impact over mere presence.
Rebecca Perrault
VP of Culture and Diversity, Magnit
Knutsford, Cheshire, UK