Back to the office? For some younger workers, that’s not such a bad thing

This year, it seemed like return-to-office orders were everywhere. After years of post-pandemic remote and hybrid schedules, more and more workers are being called back to the office at least part-time, especially in finance and tech. For corporations like JPMorgan, Amazon, AT&T, and Dell, it’s five days a week, in-person.

But according to new research from economists at the New York Fed and several universities, that’s not all bad news for those who’ve enjoyed more work flexibility, particularly for younger workers. In fact, they appear hungry for more time in the office — recognizing opportunity in office-mingling and seeing the potential negative career impact of remote work.

“Marketplace Morning Report” host Sabri Ben-Achour spoke with 29-year-old Skye Atondo, an event coordinator for Milk Studios based in Los Angeles, about how they’re feeling about the culture shift. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

Sabri Ben-Achour: So, can you tell me a little bit about what you do for work?

Skye Atondo: Primarily, like Milk Studios, we are a hub for anything to create a space for you to have an event. On the back end, it's bringing everyone in, and next day we have a shoot, right? So it's like we have to make it look as if an event was never there. So my job is basically to protect space, and then at the end of the day, just make sure the client's happy.

Ben-Achour: So, does that mean that you are mostly in person, entirely in person, or remote? How does that work for you?

Atondo: Up until the event, I'm fully online, but I'm always in office.

Ben-Achour: How do you feel about that? Do you prefer that to working remote, or how do you feel?

Atondo: I love it. I joke and always say, it's like, it gives you a reason to put a ‘fit on.

Ben-Achour: I do know of people — certain people — who would absolutely die if they had to go into the office every day. But you like it. Why do you like it?

Atondo: I love to kiki with the boys and girls, you know.

Ben-Achour: There is research that shows that people who work remotely full time, they get less training, fewer chances to move up or do new work. Does that resonate with your experience?

Atondo: Oh, for sure, I don't think without being in person, I would have gotten the mentorship I got from a lot of these guys within my industry that just taking me under the wing. And honestly, it's like the nuance of, if you send an email, you're not necessarily getting my personality or what's necessarily going on.

Ben-Achour: Out of curiosity, what is your commute?

Atondo: Like, six minutes.

Ben-Achour: OK, so that probably helps.

Atondo: Well, I mean, yeah. Especially in Los Angeles — one way in, one way out. It makes my life a little easier.

Ben-Achour: You have worked in your career remote before, right?

Atondo: Oh my gosh, yes. I think it's primarily, majority of my job is emailing, but at the end of the day, I want to see the person behind it and then actually get to know them. Like, even if it's security or if it's the director or producer, I really like to just be a part of it, rather than outside looking in.

Ben-Achour: Well, it sounds like you have a lot of fun at your job, which is great.

Atondo: Honestly, I'm so blessed to say I enjoy what I do, because very, very rarely do we get to do things where we get to make other people happy.