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We’re returning to the office but never quite arriving there
Managers need to recognise the limits of their power in wanting workers to return to office, and workers need to put in high-quality time with colleagues.
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The idea of a tug of war between managers and employees over spending time in the office has been a bit exaggerated, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Sarah Green Carmichael
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This was supposed to be the year of returning to the office.
Although office occupancy rates have risen meaningfully, they are still nowhere near pre-pandemic norms in most of the United States. In most big cities, offices are still empty more than half the time. Even in Austin, Texas – which has the highest occupancy rate among large US cities, according to Kastle Systems badge-in data – workplaces are still much emptier than before the pandemic.
