As companies and government agencies push forward with return-to-office (RTO) mandates, they risk exacerbating a workplace problem that many have failed to address adequately: gender discrimination.

New research from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management highlights how in-person work environments expose women to significantly higher levels of workplace bias and mistreatment compared to remote work. These findings present a serious challenge for leaders who insist on full-time office work without considering consequences—both ethical and financial. Beyond harming employee morale and retention, a failure to address gender discrimination in the workplace increases the risk of costly lawsuits and reputational damage. Ultimately, companies like Amazon and government agencies enforcing RTO policies will not only jeopardize workplace equity but also impose significant financial burdens on shareholders and taxpayers.

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