Cut Through the Noise: Stanford Economist Nick Bloom’s Data-Backed Insights on RTO, Hybrid Work, and What Leaders Need to Know

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Culture Conversations, host Craig Forman sits down with Nick Bloom, a renowned Stanford economist and leading expert on remote work and workplace trends. With over two decades of research on hybrid and remote work models, Nick offers a data-driven perspective on the evolving workplace and the challenges organizations face in managing their return-to-office (RTO) strategies.

Craig and Nick dive into the economic and social dynamics of hybrid work, exploring what the data reveals about productivity, employee satisfaction, and the real reasons behind some high-profile RTO mandates. They also discuss how AI and automation are reshaping the workforce, what this means for managers, and why performance-based management is essential in a hybrid world.

Key Topics Discussed:

✅ The Rise of Hybrid Work: Nick explains how hybrid work has grown steadily over the past 20 years and why it’s here to stay as a dominant workplace model.

✅ The Reality of Return-to-Office (RTO) Policies: They unpack the motivations behind recent RTO announcements by Amazon, Starbucks, and Twitter, revealing how RTO is often used as a cost-cutting tool to reduce headcount.

✅ The Three Groups of Workers Today: Nick outlines the three distinct worker groups in the current landscape—fully in-person, hybrid, and fully remote—and what this means for organizations trying to build effective policies.

✅ AI’s Impact on Remote Work: They explore how AI and automation will impact fully remote jobs in areas like call centers and back-office roles, and why hybrid work models will continue to grow.

✅ Managing in a Hybrid World: Nick highlights the importance of managing by performance, not presence, and why surveillance-based management practices can backfire in a hybrid environment.

✅ The Power of Data-Driven Decision Making: Craig and Nick discuss why organizations need to rely on internal data—not trends or external pressures—to design their workplace policies.

Books and Resources Mentioned:

📚 Harvard Business Review Article by Nick Bloom

➡️ One Company A/B Tested Hybrid Work—Here's What They Found

📚 Trip.com Randomized Control Trial

➡️ Study on the Impact of Hybrid Work on Productivity and Quit Rates

📚 Wells Fargo Mouse Jiggler Story

➡️ A Case Study on Surveillance Software and Its Negative Impact on Employee Engagement

Relevant Links:

🔗 Connect with Nick Bloom on LinkedIn - Nick shares weekly insights on workplace trends, hybrid work, and management strategies.

Culture Conversations Host:

Craig Forman is an organizational psychologist and founder of CultureC Consulting, dedicated to helping companies create better workplace cultures through strategic employee listening and engagement programs.

🔗 Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

🌐 Website: ➡️ www.culturecraig.com

📧 Email: [email protected]