[DiggyJohnson]

Seems more nuanced than this discussion is making it out. We have had attrition and recruiting challenges with RTO, but also noticeable improvements in morale and productivity - especially when it comes to onboarding new folks.

[js8]

> also noticeable improvements in morale and productivity - especially when it comes to onboarding new folks

I am sure you will need it with all the attrition. ;-)

[DiggyJohnson]

Yea weirdly enough it seems to be pretty balanced right now. For what its worth, the key players are not attrition risks, which is why I can be so blaise about it. I have seem attrition ruin many a team in my career.

[weard_beard]

Why are squishy subjects like, "morale" and "onboarding" suddenly weighted so highly when middle managers might be laid off? These topics are often ignored, neglected, de-prioritized, or laughed at 90% of the time when the bottom line of the company is at stake.

[DiggyJohnson]

Morale and onboarding experience most directly affect individual contributors, not management. I'm not sure I really understand your point.

[weard_beard]

My point is that they affect individual contributors but they are being held up by middle management as the motivator to return to office. This is self serving and largely disingenuous. The real reasons for RTO involve middle management feeling uncomfortable or unable to micro manage in a way that actually impedes productive work.

[lnsru]

I onboarded experienced engineer with hybrid approach very well. He’s super productive working from home now. The biggest problem is tutoring absolute greenhorns that need mentoring daily. Big corp I work for has full RTO and I quit, another guy quit and the guy I onboarded is also looking for new job.

[darth_avocado]

RTO morale highs are temporary, attrition morale lows are permanent.

[DiggyJohnson]

I feel like its the opposite? Our attrition has slowed greatly in the past few months now that there is the expectation that we are in office on the same site (as it was pre-pandemic). There was just a spike post-covid as we were figuring out this policy.

RTO morale isn't really a thing. Morale is high when the team members enjoy the product, the respect of our customer and fellow teammates, and the ability to deliver to the product to the customer. We also have excellent work-life balance in leadership. This kind of morale can be garnered by both remote and in-person teams alike. I genuinely think it's an issue of nuance, personal preference, and specifics of geography.