Cisco’s 2025 Global Hybrid Work Study reveals a disconnect between employer RTO expectations and employee desires for flexibility.
Nearly 80% of high-achievers would consider leaving if flexibility isn’t offered, highlighting its importance for retention.
Only 36% of staff feel RTO mandates are clearly communicated, pointing to a significant communication gap.
Companies risk alienating high-performing and younger employees by not addressing calls for flexibility and better tech.
Cisco’s 2025 Global Hybrid Work Study reveals a major disconnect between employer return-to-office RTO expectations and employee desires, with staff, especially top performers and Gen Z, prioritizing flexibility over rigid office mandates. This tension underscores a critical challenge for leaders aiming to balance productivity with worker satisfaction in evolving workplaces.
Mandate malaise: The research, polling over 21,000 globally, found that while hybrid setups shrank to 45% from 62% two years prior, RTO directives are poorly received. More than three-quarters of staff feel these policies signal a lack of trust, and only about two-in-five believe mandated office days actually boost their effectiveness, with even fewer (28%) seeing them as helping their well-being.
Talent’s terms: Flexibility isn’t just a preference; it’s a retention play, according to Cisco’s EVP Fran Katsoudas. Nearly 80% of high-achievers would consider leaving if policies aren’t adaptable, and while a strong majority see career benefits in office time, only about a third prefer being on-site. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed would willingly take less pay for more remote work opportunities.
Lost in translation: A significant communication gap persists, with only just over a third of staff feeling RTO mandates were clearly explained. The study also points to a tech investment shortfall: while nine out of ten workers value good collaboration tools, only about a third of employers are investing in the high-grade tech that effective hybrid work demands.
The bottom line: Companies pushing rigid RTO without addressing employee calls for flexibility, clear communication, and better tech risk alienating their workforce, particularly the high-performing and younger segments crucial for future success. Beyond hybrid work, Cisco is also beefing up enterprise networks for demanding AI workloads and rolling out security enhancements to guard against AI-driven cyber threats. Additionally, the company is embedding agentic AI into Webex to streamline workplace interactions.
Reading Recap:
Cisco’s 2025 Global Hybrid Work Study reveals a disconnect between employer RTO expectations and employee desires for flexibility.
Nearly 80% of high-achievers would consider leaving if flexibility isn’t offered, highlighting its importance for retention.
Only 36% of staff feel RTO mandates are clearly communicated, pointing to a significant communication gap.
Companies risk alienating high-performing and younger employees by not addressing calls for flexibility and better tech.
Cisco’s 2025 Global Hybrid Work Study reveals a major disconnect between employer return-to-office RTO expectations and employee desires, with staff, especially top performers and Gen Z, prioritizing flexibility over rigid office mandates. This tension underscores a critical challenge for leaders aiming to balance productivity with worker satisfaction in evolving workplaces.
Mandate malaise: The research, polling over 21,000 globally, found that while hybrid setups shrank to 45% from 62% two years prior, RTO directives are poorly received. More than three-quarters of staff feel these policies signal a lack of trust, and only about two-in-five believe mandated office days actually boost their effectiveness, with even fewer (28%) seeing them as helping their well-being.
Talent’s terms: Flexibility isn’t just a preference; it’s a retention play, according to Cisco’s EVP Fran Katsoudas. Nearly 80% of high-achievers would consider leaving if policies aren’t adaptable, and while a strong majority see career benefits in office time, only about a third prefer being on-site. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed would willingly take less pay for more remote work opportunities.
Lost in translation: A significant communication gap persists, with only just over a third of staff feeling RTO mandates were clearly explained. The study also points to a tech investment shortfall: while nine out of ten workers value good collaboration tools, only about a third of employers are investing in the high-grade tech that effective hybrid work demands.
The bottom line: Companies pushing rigid RTO without addressing employee calls for flexibility, clear communication, and better tech risk alienating their workforce, particularly the high-performing and younger segments crucial for future success. Beyond hybrid work, Cisco is also beefing up enterprise networks for demanding AI workloads and rolling out security enhancements to guard against AI-driven cyber threats. Additionally, the company is embedding agentic AI into Webex to streamline workplace interactions.
Reading Recap:
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