The NSW Property Council and RTO Mandates

Salary sacrifice by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free.

Some organisations that were perfectly content to embrace working from home during the pandemic are moving to mandated RTO (return to office). This is happening despite the fact that numerous studies show working from home increases productivity.

So, what gives? Why would employers give up a significant uptick in productivity, along with the recruiting benefits WFH offers?

Many reasons are given, but it turns out a significant factor here in Australia is lobbying by commercial real estate interests:

In August, developer lobby group the Property Council and its ally, Business Western Sydney, hailed themselves victorious in tipping the government’s hand in forcing public servants back into the office.

So if your job can be done remotely, and you're wondering why you're being forced back to the office, please remember that your time, money, and well-being are being sacrificed to prop up the portfolios of these companies, among others.