Introduction
The return-to-office (RTO) movement has become one of the most significant shifts in the workplace since the rise of remote work. Yet for many organizations, the promise of reinvigorated collaboration and culture hasn’t panned out. Instead, leaders confront half-empty offices, rising attrition, and frustrated employees. So how do you know if your RTO plan is truly working—or quietly failing?
This guide looks at the main signs of a struggling RTO program. It shows how to find the root causes and the tools you need to improve things. No matter if you work in HR, facilities, or leadership, this guide helps you find and fix RTO issues. Addressing these problems early can prevent harm to morale and performance.
What Is a Return-to-Office (RTO) Program?
An RTO program explains how and when employees should return to the office after working remotely. It may be fully onsite, hybrid (part remote, part in-office), or flexible (team-based discretion). These programs often aim to rebuild corporate culture, enhance collaboration, improve productivity, and better utilize real estate investments.
Key stakeholders include HR, workplace experience teams, facilities managers, IT, and executive leadership. However, the most critical group—employees—are often the barometer of whether the RTO strategy will thrive or fail. For more insights, visit our Workplace Analytics page.
Early Warning Signs Your RTO Program Is Failing
1. Rising Attrition Rates
When top talent begins to leave or quietly quit, your RTO strategy might not match what employees expect. Watch for increased turnover, especially among high performers and early-career professionals.
2. Declining Office Attendance
If your office occupancy numbers show a steady drop or stay the same, it means employees may not like the plan. They might also find it unimportant for how they work.
3. Worsening Employee Sentiment
Employee surveys, one-on-one interviews, and anonymous forums like Glassdoor can show negative feelings. These feelings are about the requirement to work in the office. FMS:Insights to track workplace satisfaction trends.
4. Space Underutilization
Empty desks, unused meeting rooms, and booked-but-abandoned workspaces show poor space planning and lack of employee buy-in. This leads to wasted resources and diminished ROI. Our space management solutions can help optimize usage.
 5. Operational Inefficiencies
Are your facilities costs increasing while productivity stays flat or drops? Rising cost per square foot or per employee often signals inefficiencies in your RTO strategy.
Metrics to Measure RTO Success
-  Employee Utilization Rates: Who’s coming in, how often, and when?
- Space Utilization: Measure desk, meeting room, and amenity usage across departments.
- Productivity Benchmarks: Compare business output before and after implementing your RTO model.
- Engagement Surveys: Track changes in satisfaction, well-being, and connectedness.
Environmental Impact: Assess carbon footprint changes and energy use post-RTO.
 Tools and Technologies That Help Diagnose RTO Issues
- FM:Systems: Workplace analytics and space utilization tracking
- VergeSense: Occupancy and motion sensors for real-time usage
- Robin / Envoy: Desk booking and employee experience platforms
- Culture Amp / Officevibe: Employee engagement tracking
- Microsoft Places: Integrated space and people insights in Microsoft 365
 Conclusion
If your return-to-office plan isn’t meeting expectations, you’re not alone. But ignoring early signs of failure can damage morale, performance, and retention. By tracking the right metrics, listening to employees, and being flexible, you can make your RTO program successful.
Ready to assess your RTO strategy? Start with a workplace audit using FMS:Insights and explore how analytics tools can give you the clarity you need to move forward.
