Managers Burn Out, RTO Mandates Ignored as Hybrid Work Defies Compliance

The growing number of return-to-office (RTO) mandates has not translated into a corresponding increase in employee compliance, with workers continuing to work from home more than required in what has come to be known as the “hushed hybrid” trend. New data from the Flex Index shows that while required office time has increased by 12% since early 2024—from an average of 2.57 days per week to 2.87—actual office attendance has only risen by 1% to 3% across 14,000 companies. This indicates a growing gap between company expectations and employee actions, as many continue to work remotely despite formal policies requiring in-office presence. The phenomenon is not limited to rank-and-file employees; managers are also contributing to the trend, with many too exhausted or unmotivated to enforce RTO mandates. “If I’m the manager and I’ve got a solid performer and they’re coming in two or three days a week, but not five, I’m not going to fire them,” said Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and publisher of the Flex Index, in an interview with Fortune. This sentiment highlights a shift in managerial priorities, where employee productivity often takes precedence over strict adherence to in-office policies.

Managerial burnout is increasingly being cited as a key factor behind the lack of enforcement. A 2024 report by meQuilibrium, a digital coaching platform, predicted a “manager crash” in 2025, where managers’ well-being and leadership abilities would decline due to excessive workloads. According to a Deloitte survey, nearly 40% of a manager’s workday is spent on last-minute problems or administrative tasks, with only 15% dedicated to strategic planning and 13% to mentoring. This imbalance has led to a depletion of management resources, making it difficult for managers to monitor and enforce office attendance policies, especially when companies are asking for more employees to return in person. “Like a market crash, we’ll see a significant downturn in manager well-being, performance, and the ability to continue taking the lead as the change champions,” noted Alanna Fincke, head of meQuilibrium’s content and learning. As a result, managers are often resentful of the RTO push, with many feeling it is unrealistic or unfair given the current workload and expectations.

Meanwhile, employees continue to resist the return to in-office work through a variety of tactics. One common method is “coffee badging,” where employees clock in, grab a coffee, and leave, or ask a coworker to swipe in for them. A 2024 report from Owl Labs found that 44% of U.S. employees who were ordered back to the office admitted to this practice, with seven in ten admitting to being caught. Another approach is simply ignoring RTO mandates altogether, particularly in companies with lax tracking systems. Some workers leverage their performance or high status to negotiate special arrangements, with managers reluctant to enforce policies if doing so could risk losing a valuable employee. “Performance matters more than compliance,” said Elliott. “Managers, when faced with mounting demands to ‘do more with less,’ are unwilling to remove someone who’s a good performer.”

As noncompliance persists, employers are tightening monitoring and enforcement. According to a 2025 survey by CBRE, 69% of companies now measure office attendance compliance, up from 45% in 2024. Of those, nearly 37% have implemented enforcement actions, including tracking via badge-swipe and cell-phone data. Some of the largest firms, including Amazon, Meta, and Samsung, have reportedly introduced tools to crack down on absences and noncompliance. The CBRE report also noted a 53% year-over-year increase in attendance tracking, with smaller companies leading the way in enforcement. While larger organizations face greater challenges in implementation due to scale and complexity, the overall trend suggests a shift toward more structured and measurable hybrid work environments.

The financial implications of this transition are also coming into focus. Uneven office utilization remains a significant concern, with many companies reporting underused office spaces despite rising real estate costs. CFOs are now tasked with balancing the costs of maintaining office infrastructure with the need to meet employee expectations and optimize real estate portfolios. Assigned seating is declining, and flexible office space is gaining traction, particularly among smaller firms looking to provide employees with more choice and reduce overhead. For large companies, the challenge is more about cost efficiency and aligning hybrid strategies with long-term financial and talent goals. As the hybrid model becomes more defined, companies are increasingly relying on data-driven approaches to monitor and manage office attendance, with CFOs playing a central role in shaping these decisions.

Source: [1] 'Hushed hybrid': Even as RTO mandates grow, workers still ... (https://fortune.com/2025/08/27/hushed-hybrid-driven-by-manager-burnout-rto-mandates/) [2] Ordered back to the office, they work from home. Here's how (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/08/27/work-from-home-workers-defy-rto-mandates/85821219007/) [3] In-person compliance tracking rises 53% as attendance ... (https://www.cfo.com/news/in-person-compliance-tracking-up-53-attendance-rules-tighten-return-to-office-cfo-manage-rto-/758647/)