Sarah Green Carmichael, Columnist

Don’t Believe the Hype on These 3 Workplace Trends

As we head into a new year, beware overblown predictions that don’t reflect reality.

What will our office life look like in 2025?

Photographer: Ezra Bailey/The Image Bank RF
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From a quick glance at 2024’s top business headlines, you’d think all companies were pushing return-to-office policies, embracing artificial intelligence and banishing diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But as we head into 2025, let’s remember that headlines don’t always reflect reality.

Start with RTO mandates. The media loves a scary back-to-the-office headline. From the point of view of clicks, a strict five-day-a-week policy is gold. Even better? If that policy applies to liberal tech dweebs. Full points if it’s a company that once promised to work remotely forever, like X when it was still Twitter.