RTO reluctance | Are free lunches enough to fix return-to-office hesitancy?

Week by week, more and more businesses are increasing the amount of time they require employees to be in the office. Whereas just a couple of years ago, remote working was seen as the future of employment (how did we ever work in an office five days a week? We all pondered), it's becoming ever more rarer to find a fully remote job.

One of the latest firms to hit the headlines over RTO (return to office) plans is WPP which, in a bid to entice staff back into the office, is offering free lunches on Fridays. It’s the latest in a series of “work perks” being trialled by large employers keen to increase office attendance. 

But does the FTSE 100 advertising giant’s beef ragu and garlic bread (according to The Times) really get to the heart of why employees are reluctant to return to their desks?

From April, WPP has required staff to attend the office at least four days a week, including two Fridays a month. In response, employees launched a petition, and two of the company’s biggest agencies - Ogilvy and Grey - delayed implementing the mandate altogether due to a lack of desks. Nevertheless, the message is clear: more time in the office is non-negotiable, and those who don’t comply face possible dismissal.