Mandated Return-to-Office Policies and Federal Employee Well-Being: Evidence From Three Waves of U.S. Survey Data

Abstract

This study investigates how U.S. federal employees responded to the January 2025 return-to-office (RTO) mandate, which abruptly ended widespread telework arrangements across executive branch agencies. Using qualitative data from three federal workforce surveys conducted between 2024 and 2025, this research examines employee perspectives on the transition back to in-person work. The analysis reveals that the RTO order disrupted established routines, reduced employees’ sense of control over their work environment, and introduced new emotional and logistical strains. These findings offer new insights into how rigid workforce mandates shape employee experience, motivation, and perceptions of fairness in the post-pandemic public sector workplace.