Is 2025 the year we see the end of remote work? It could well be, considering how businesses are pushing for in-person systems once more. Target employees have been asked to return to the office with greater regularity at the company’s downtown Minneapolis headquarters. The Target RTO orders are not being introduced with a full reversal of its hybrid policy, however, more workers will soon be asked to come in with greater frequency.
Initial reports from earlier in the month suggested that Target’s office work enforcement plans for 2025 were being left to the managers to determine who should be coming in and how often they must work in the office. This approach helps ensure that every team is supported by regulations that work for them, but it also raises concerns about confusion and dissatisfaction. The lack of a central policy would have made the enforcement of Target’s RTO orders more difficult for managers to enforce, especially if some teams were required to come in more often than colleagues.
Now, newer reports suggest that a large number of Target employees will have to return to the office three days a week.
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Target Employees Asked to Return to the Office For Better Connection and Collaboration
From what we’ve learnt so far, Target’s hybrid policy changes don’t indicate a permanent return to full-time work, but the company is set to put a greater emphasis on in-person operations. Target employs over 400,000 workers across its business, and the downtown Minneapolis headquarters claims around 7,000 of these workers. The Target employees returning to the office are based at this location.
The organization previously had a policy of five mandated weeks in office per year. Different divisions were allowed to decide when they worked in person and how they segmented their time in and out of the office. Target is now making changes to get employees to spend more time working face-to-face with their teams.
The new Target RTO orders were announced to employees in a memo on July 10, and it explained that employees in the commercial unit will now be expected to work from the Minneapolis headquarters office three days a week. Target’s hybrid policy changes go into effect on September 2, 2025, so employees have some time to prepare for the switch in the system.
Why Is Target Returning to More In-Person Work?
Target’s Chief Commercial Officer, Rick Gomez, sent out a memo to employees explaining the company’s RTO orders for the commercial unit, and he broke down the reasoning behind the decision. From the reports we’ve seen, Target’s hybrid policy changes are being motivated by the drive to “maximize the potential of [its] hybrid, remote, and global Commercial team and move forward with clarity, connection, and purpose.” The company believes that more in-person work will allow for the business to grow faster and connect with its partners better.
According to CBS News, Target provided a statement on the change: “Team members tell us they see the benefit from the in-person connection and collaboration that’s a part of being in the office. At this point, individual leaders are empowered to make decisions for their teams based on company guidance as well as what’s best for the role they play in our business.”
Target has witnessed a greater drop in sales than expected, and it’s evident that the organization is hoping to change things around with its workforce to better handle the future of the business. Thankfully, Target’s office work enforcement plans do allow for some degree of flexibility. The employees can pick which three days they want to work in person during the week, and this should help workers maintain some control over their schedules.
Are RTO Orders Leading the Way Forward in 2025?
As Target employees return to the office, the question of the hour remains: Is in-person work the actual key to better communication and productivity? From the perspective of employers, this does appear to be the case.
Many business leaders have begun to revert company policy to the old ways, mandating either part-time or full-time in-person work. Amazon has rid itself of the hybrid model entirely and proceeded with its RTO mandate despite resistance from workers, however, other businesses like Intel, Google, and Uber have increased the number of days employees work in person.
The gradual but steady shift towards office work has caused frustration among workers who cherished the flexibility brought on by the COVID-19 era, but their concerns have largely been ignored. The notion that in-person work fosters happier, more productive employees has been countered by those who argue that such a system merely introduces more distractions and complications into their workday. However, this resistance has not been sufficient to sway employers.
A Hybrid Model Offers Everyone the Best of Both Worlds
Target’s RTO orders and hybrid policy changes are more flexible than the deal that has been offered to employees at other organizations, and it currently remains the best scenario for both employers and employees. A hybrid model leaves room for some degree of flexibility while also prioritizing in-office work, which allows most to enjoy the best of both worlds.
In 2025, workers who resist the shift to in-person work face the risk of losing their jobs, as the job market is full of hopeful candidates who have been laid off in large numbers. Admittedly, employers also need to be cautious. Going against employee sentiment leads to trends such as coffee badging and quiet cracking, and such reactions can ultimately hurt the business in the long run.
Communication and concessions need to lead the way forward for employers planning to emulate Target’s RTO orders, as it is the only way to keep employees actively invested in their work while also chasing the in-person connection and collaboration that they are looking for by bringing employees face-to-face.
As Target employees return to the office, we want to know if your employer has enacted a similar change at work and if the shift has impacted you. Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights into the ever-evolving landscape of work and employment in 2025.