Why the Resistance to RTO Mandates?

 

The return to office (RTO) battle continues with large corporates mandating their employees work at the office for three, four or even five days a week. Despite the mandates, the resistance to RTO continues and office space remains underutilised. The reason is quite straight forward – a mandate is an official order or command and humans simply do not like being told what to do. As such, a mandate challenges fundamental psychological processes and our very being.

Being told what to do is perceived as a direct threat to the core psychological need for autonomy and our sense of agency – the hardwired desire for being instigators of our own actions and destiny. According to motivational theories, such as Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs and self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), having the ability to make our own choices and a sense of freedom increases intrinsic (self) motivation which is essential for maximising our growth and potential, resulting in enhanced mental wellbeing and happiness.