The term return to office (RTO) has dominated headlines for the past year. But despite the noise, data tell a different story: Full-time office life isn’t coming back—at least not in the same way.

According to 2025 research, 85% of organizations now stipulate an attendance policy, but only 37% actually enforce it.

The numbers reveal what most workers already know: Hybrid work has become the real norm.

RTO really means hybrid

Even when companies ask employees to come back, few expect five full days a week. On average, employers expect 3.2 days in office per week, according to a study by CBRE.

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