In a troubling sign for the remote work revolution, briefcase-carrying Manhattanites have fully returned to their natural habitat.
Driving the news: New York City workers went into the office last month more than they did in July 2019, per data collected by analytics firm Placer, marking the first time monthly post-pandemic office attendance levels in the Big Apple surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
- Finance-heavy NYC was the only major metropolitan area in the U.S. where attendance was higher than July 2019, though Miami attendance was almost on par.
Why it matters: The NYC data show that RTO has the upperhand in the war against WFH, at least in the world of finance. The same is true in Canada, where the four top banks are mandating employees must come in four days a week; some policies take effect next month.
- It’s already being felt in Canada’s finance capital, where occupancy rates are 78% of pre-pandemic levels, and with new data suggesting occupancy levels in leased office space may actually be higher.
Yes, but: Workers who have grown accustomed to hybrid work won’t give it up without a fight. A recent survey found that 59% of Canadians want to work remotely either most of or all of the time, and can point to a lack of desks and office space to bolster their cases.
Zoom out: Interviews, another aspect of work that had moved online during the pandemic, is also making an IRL return as more companies look to combat AI-assisted cheating.—QH