Why back-to-office mandates don’t work

Financial firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs are striving to get their staff to show up at the office more often. But occupancy rates appear to be stuck at permanently lower levels than before the pandemic. Isabel Berwick hears from NYU Professor Scott Galloway why she thinks more office time would be good for everyone. And the FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson has been listening to CEOs voice their concerns about an epidemic of loneliness.

They want more?

BlackRock calls employees into the office four days a week

Lonely bosses seek opportunity in a disconnection crisis

Not all workforce problems can be attributed to GenZ

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Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Zaragoza. Mixed by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com