Despite the widespread adoption of flexible work arrangements in recent years, many companies are now mandating a full return to office (RTO), with major corporations like Amazon leading this shift.

Alongside this trend, several business leaders have publicly criticised remote work, claiming it reduces productivity and effectiveness. As these policies become more prevalent, important questions emerge about their impact on workers and gender equality in the workplace.

Join our panel as they we discuss new research from the King’s Global Institute for Women's Leadership which examines workers' responses to RTO mandates and investigates potential biases against home-based workers.

GIWL's research, based on comprehensive UK workforce data, reveals a troubling pattern: when remote work is stigmatised and disproportionately used by women, full RTO mandates can worsen gender inequality both at home and in the workplace.

Join us to discuss the findings and explore how organisations and policymakers can shape workplace policies that support genuine flexibility and equality.

Speakers:

• Professor Heejung Chung, Professor of Work and Employment and Director of King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership (chair)
• Julia Hobsbawm OBE, Author of The Nowhere Office and Founder and CEO of Workathon, the global work trends network
• Emma Jacobs (TBC), Work & Careers Columnist, Financial Times
• Ellen Scott, Digital Editor, Stylist.co.uk
• Shiyu Yuan, Research Fellow, Global Institute for Women's Leadership