Return-to-Office Policies: Does It Work for Her?

Ah, return-to-office (RTO) policies—because nothing says progress like dusting off your 2019 khakis and pretending the world hasn’t changed. But let’s cut to the chase: The real question isn’t whether RTO works for your company; it’s whether it works for her and her family unit as a whole. Spoiler alert: probably not.

Let’s break it down. For many men, RTO prep looks something like this: Wake up, grab a shirt that smells “mostly fine,” find your trusty khakis that have miraculously survived three presidential administrations, and hit the road. Boom. Office-ready. But for women? Oh no, my friend. Her morning is a high-stakes juggling act of logistical sorcery. It’s a whirlwind of wardrobe roulette (“Do these pants scream ‘competent professional’ or ‘emotional breakdown’?”), assembling lunches, coordinating school drop-offs, and launching a full-scale sock search-and-rescue mission. And that’s all before her coffee’s even cooled to drinkable.

So here’s the thing: when companies enforce RTO, they’re not just asking employees to commute again. They’re quietly demanding women—who often bear the brunt of family logistics—to stretch their days like an overworked piece of taffy. And let’s not kid ourselves: even in the most “equitable” households, the ripple effects of RTO hit her harder.  Who is stepping up to help her?  You?

Imagine this: Her stress levels spike, the delicate balance of family life teeters on collapse, and suddenly, your previously smooth-running household feels like an episode of Survivor: Suburbia. All because some out of touch someone at HQ thought face-to-face meetings were irreplaceable. Are you picking up the slack? Are you tag-teaming the morning chaos, or are you blissfully unaware, enjoying your podcast-filled commute?

Let’s be real. The future of work isn’t about where you plop your laptop. It’s about creating an environment that works for everyone—her, her family, and yes, even you. Flexibility isn’t some woo-woo perk; it’s a survival strategy. Because if RTO doesn’t work for her, it doesn’t work for anyone.

So, gentlemen, next time you’re cheering on RTO like it’s the Super Bowl, take a moment to ask: Who’s picking up the slack? And if the answer isn’t “me,” well, maybe it’s time to step up. Or better yet, rethink whether mandatory office days are truly the win you think they are.

Because let’s face it: the future of work is flexibility. And if you can’t see that, it’s time to RTR… return to reality.