Back to the Office: A Pipe Dream for Executives?

Earlier this month NPR published an article citing examples of companies that have tried to call their employees back to the office…but ultimately failed. Companies like Apple have pushed back their “in-office” start date numerous times, while companies like Goldman Sachs, American Express, Microsoft, and Citigroup are trying to bring employees back. However, it hasn’t always gone swimmingly.

When Goldman Sachs reopened its NYC office on February 1, only half the employees returned.

Amex, Microsoft, and Citigroup have championed a hybrid approach, with the Amex CEO stating that it “makes no sense” to trek in to the office just to sit on the phone or Zoom.

And Google, in a move to lure thousands of employees back to its HQ in Silicon Valley, hosted a private Lizzo concert for employees.

With the job market so hot for employees right now, though, everyone is wondering if this push to return to the office will last. How many free lunches and private concerts are worth the cost (and time) of the commute and the in-office annoyances that were so prevalent pre-pandemic?

Here at Mintaka we believe that there’s still a way to bring your teams together even without being in the office full-time—spending time at a wilderness retreat or offsite! With monthly or quarterly offsites and retreats, you can be intentional about the culture you build at your company while still attracting the best talent.

A wilderness retreat might not make the same splash that a Lizzo concert does, but disconnecting from technology and focusing on leadership, communication, or mindfulness in the wilderness can have long-term benefits both for employees and the entire company!