The Revolutionary Return-to-Office Strategy Transforming the Workplace

Big Tech companies have issued a firm demand to their employees: Either return to the office or seek alternative employment. Leaders such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, along with numerous other influential figures in America's largest corporations, have explicitly emphasized the significance of in-person work for achieving collective success.

Autodesk remains resilient against peer pressure. However, when influential companies exert peer pressure, it poses a significant risk to go against the prevailing trend, and the outcome is typically unfavorable. Despite this, Rebecca Pearce, the chief people officer at Autodesk, was undeterred and decided to explore an alternative strategy.

The woman who advocated for it

Autodesk, a multinational software company that focuses on creating tools for architects and designers, introduced a new initiative called Flex Forward under the leadership of its current leader. This hybrid-centric approach empowers managers to have control over determining when or if employees should physically be present in the office.

British-born human relations executive Pearce, based in Cornwall, England, was a prominent advocate for Flex Forward in C-suite level meetings. "I'm afflicted with being a forward-thinking optimist," Pearce revealed to CNN.

With an extensive experience in hybrid working setups across different countries, she understood her ability to maintain productivity whether working from an office or any other location.

Simultaneously, she, along with fellow Autodesk executives, emphasized the significance of employees physically attending the office, acknowledging the value of in-person interactions for both the workforce and the overall company.

Rebecca Pearce, the chief people officer at Autodesk.

Pearce, the interim chief people officer at Autodesk Inc., stated that certain tasks are simply more effectively accomplished in person. Pearce assumed the role in January 2021, filling the position temporarily as Autodesk sought a permanent replacement for its former CPO, who resigned.

Pearce was surprised to be considered for her role as no previous C-suite executive at Autodesk had lived outside of North America, she mentioned. "I sometimes felt a significant responsibility to demonstrate that flexible working can be successful even at the highest levels within the organization."

Meanwhile, Pearce encountered minimal resistance when presenting her case for Flex Forward, according to Autodesks chief operating officer, Steve Blum. He added that Pearce consistently listens to employees' concerns during any decision-making process.

"Everyone knows when she presents anything, its always been whats in the best interest of the company," he told CNN.

The strategy: Getting workers to come in of their own volition

Autodesk closed down over 90 offices globally in March 2020, and since then, the company has been gradually reopening based on local regulations throughout 2021. However, despite the availability of optional workplace usage, the company's 13,000 employees did not show a strong desire to return promptly. Meanwhile, external to Autodesk, the number of return-to-office mandates quickly started increasing.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk caused controversy with his announcement that employees would need to work in person for a full five days each week starting in June 2022. In a company-wide email, Musk remarked, "While there are some companies that do not enforce this policy, it has been quite some time since they have successfully delivered a groundbreaking new product." In a post on X, previously known as Twitter, Musk suggested that those who disagree with the policy should seek employment elsewhere.

However, numerous companies have also adopted this approach. In a March blog post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg of Meta stated, "Based on our initial examination of performance data, it appears that engineers who initially worked at Meta's physical location and later switched to remote work, or those who remained on-site, generally performed better than individuals who started in a remote capacity." Zuckerberg further added, "Additionally, our analysis reveals that engineers in the early stages of their careers tend to achieve better results when they collaborate with teammates in person for a minimum of three days per week."

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon argues that a more widespread return to the office is necessary due to the negative effects of prolonged remote work. Dimon expresses concern about the "alienation" experienced by younger employees and warns of potential long-term economic and social repercussions.

According to CEO Jamie Dimon, approximately 60% of JPMorgan Chase's workforce, including all managing directors, are currently working in-person for five days a week. Dimon emphasized the importance of being accessible to one's team, stating that remote work is not conducive to creativity and spontaneity.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated in a company-wide memo in February that people are more engaged, observant, and attuned to the meetings and cultural clues in person. He also explained that collaborating and inventing is easier and more effective when employees are physically present.

Similarly, Autodesk also desired the return of their workers. However, they adopted a unique approach by creating a satirical video. The video encouraged an employee who initially seemed to be participating in a Zoom meeting to join their colleagues at Autodesk's office in Portland, Oregon, in April of the previous year.

"Come on, come on!" an employee in the video urges. They try to persuade the Zoom employee, who seems hesitant to return to the office, by emphasizing how much cooler the office is compared to their home setup. "Don't be a dork," they add. The video goes on to showcase the various perks available in the office, such as massage chairs and complimentary snacks. This video effectively represents the essence of Flex Forward.

Autodesk offices in Portland, Oregon, in December 2020.

"We aim for employees to be drawn to the office willingly, rather than feeling obligated to be present," Pearce expressed to CNN, expressing his views on creating a supportive work environment. He firmly believes that true happiness, productivity, collaboration, and innovation are not solely dependent on physical office spaces.

Allowing more than 2,600 managers who have direct contact with their employees to have decision-making authority seemed like a mutually beneficial arrangement. It aimed to prevent a situation like the one at Amazon, where employees staged a large-scale walkout in response to the company's requirement for in-office work three days a week. Additionally, it aimed to avoid the situation faced by Grindr, an LGBTQ dating app, which lost almost half of its workforce after implementing a return-to-office policy.

However, this program presented the risk of enabling all employees to work remotely, whether from home or other locations. This would have resulted in Autodesk having unused office space and leases that were not due for renewal for several years.

However, Pearce admitted that there would be instances where they would require employees to be physically present for a few months as it would greatly benefit both their individual and company's progress.

Despite this, Pearce emphasized that Autodesk did not want to give the impression that they were simply seeking an effortless way to attract talent by providing such a flexible and appealing work setup, as she conveyed to CNN.

Intentional office gatherings

Autodesk, prior to implementing Flex Forward, conducted a reevaluation of its office layout, according to Blum. This involved the closure of its San Rafael, California office, merging it with the San Francisco headquarters, and commencing the subleasing of certain office spaces.

An office space area that has been reimagined as part of the Autodesk Conference Experience program at the company's headquarters in San Francisco.

Autodesk Inc., courtesy of the company, also revamped a significant portion of its office areas to veer away from cubicles and individual workspaces, constituting around 60% to 70% of their total office space, towards environments that facilitate increased collaboration. In the words of Pearce, this transformation encourages what he calls "intentional gathering."

According to Pearce, the situation has now changed, allowing off-site meetings that were previously held at hotels to take place in-office.

Blum added, "This approach not only optimizes the use of space but also proves to be a more cost-effective method for conducting these meetings. It's an ongoing experiment of sorts."

Pearce has stopped worrying how Flex Forward makes Autodesk look in the eyes of companies competing for the same talent. The results speak for themselves, she said.

Employees at Autodesk's Portland, Oregon, office in June 2023.

Courtesy Autodesk Inc.

Voluntary attrition rates have decreased by 7% year to date, when compared to the corresponding period last year, based on internal data disclosed to CNN by Autodesk. Furthermore, after the announcement of Flex Forward, Autodesk job postings witnessed a remarkable increase of 400% in views. Notably, the company is experiencing a surge in applications from female candidates and individuals who identify themselves as people of color.

A struggle not to be seen as “that remote company”

"We aim for individuals to be motivated to join Autodesk based on our work and culture," stated Pearce. However, Pearce noted that the talent acquisition team is noticing a growing trend of candidates applying for positions due to perceiving Autodesk as a remote company.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with desiring to work for an organization that offers hybrid working," she stated during her interview with CNN. "However, we should not solely rely on this aspect when presenting our value proposition to employees."

Consequently, hiring managers must exercise greater discernment when selecting candidates of high quality. Nevertheless, according to Pearce, this predicament is seen as a positive challenge."