Navigating the Return to Office Mandate: A Framework for Federal Agencies : National Academy of Public Administration , 2025
Navigating the Return to Office Mandate: A Framework for Federal Agencies : National Academy of Public Administration , 2025
From the report: “On January 20th, 2025, the Trump administration issued a memorandum mandating federal employees to return to the office (RTO) five days a week. To meet the requirements of the memorandum, agencies have developed their RTO plans and new telework policies. This memorandum marks a significant shift from the previous telework arrangements in the federal government and departs from prevailing industry practices and broader societal expectations, where various forms of workplace flexibility have become the norm over the decades. More people, especially younger generations, prioritize work-life balance and flexibility over salary when making career decisions. The shift to full-time, in-person work also imposes significant, often unacknowledged, burdens on employees, such as increased financial costs and reduced child or elder care, which are shown to affect job performance and productivity.
Not all jobs require full-time, on-site presence of staff, and not all jobs are amenable to telework. As the environment continues to evolve rapidly, it is essential for federal agencies to continuously monitor the implementation of the RTO mandate and assess the benefits, challenges, and cost implications to make informed adjustments. As shown in the figure below, the Academy has developed a framework intended to serve as a tool for agencies to assess the impacts of the RTO mandate on agencies’ performance, organizational health, and costs.”
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