AI Is Reshaping the World of Work, Making Mandatory Return-to-Office Policies Obsolete

Jakarta, VIVA – The return-to-office (RTO) trend is once again under the spotlight amid massive corporate investment in artificial intelligence (AI). As is well known, a number of executives believe that policies bringing employees back to the office can restore productivity.

However, the latest analysis suggests this assumption does not align with reality on the ground. Many companies, it turns out, find themselves in a contradictory position.

On one hand, they are pouring millions of dollars into AI initiatives to automate work and boost efficiency. On the other, they are imposing return-to-office mandates based on outdated work patterns.

According to a report by Fast Company on Monday, 23 February 2026, many executives from Silicon Valley to Wall Street regard bringing employees back to the office as the key to restoring productivity. Yet offices filling up again do not necessarily reflect improved performance.

Many employees continue to attend virtual meetings from their office desks, wear noise-cancelling headphones, and carry out tasks that could just as easily be completed from home. The difference is that they now have to spend approximately US$20, or around Rp336,000 per day (at an exchange rate of Rp16,800), on transport costs, whilst eating a simple lunch at their desks.

The new wave of RTO policies has emerged alongside growing corporate investment in AI technology. AI-based systems are designed to automate workflows, reduce staffing requirements in certain functions, improve cost efficiency, and are promoted as engines of the future capable of streamlining operations and modernising work processes.

Nevertheless, return-to-office policies are still seen as rooted in the assumption that peak productivity requires full-time physical presence. Recent research from McKinsey & Company shows that return-to-office mandates do not significantly improve productivity, innovation, or team connectivity.

On the contrary, the research found that RTO policies have the potential to undermine employee morale, increase resignation rates, and reduce job satisfaction.

Furthermore, there is a tension within corporate strategy. On one hand, management is driving efficiency through AI and automation. On the other, they are maintaining office-based work policies designed for an operational model that predates the rapid advance of the digital era.