WPP's return to office mandate, layoffs at Meta and more
Hello, and welcome to WorkLife’s 5 things newsletter. In this weekly newsletter, we will spotlight five things to know about the latest issues affecting modern workplaces.
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Here are 5 things to know about work this week.
1. The debate over WPP’s RTO mandate highlights a stark industry divide
When WPP announced last week that it would require its 114,000 employees to return to the office four days per week come April, the global advertising giant sparked more than just water-cooler chatter.
The policy — the strictest RTO edict yet among the agency holding companies — has resulted in intense debate about the future of work in the advertising industry, pointing to a stark divide between how large, corporate-owned agencies and privately held shops approach workplace flexibility in a post-pandemic world.
2. The rise of ‘revenge quitting’ is a growing challenge for HR leaders
As workplace frustrations reach a boiling point, “revenge quitting” is expected to peak in 2025.
Why all the rage? For one, Glassdoor reports that 65% of workers feel stuck in their roles. Of growing concern to employers, the trend of abrupt quitting is increasingly accompanied by destructive behaviors that put company data at risk.
Nearly 1 in 6 workers has witnessed a colleague intentionally deleting important company data before quitting — a phenomenon dubbed “rage deletion,” according to the Work Trend Security Report from data backup and recovery firm CrashPlan .
3. Meta’s latest layoffs may herald larger trends putting a bull’s-eye on tech talent this year
When Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week announced plans to cut 5% of the company’s workforce, citing a need to “raise the bar on performance management” in an “intense year” ahead, it was just the latest in a series of jolts in the tech industry as employers navigate the integration of AI and RTO.
The announcement follows prior layoffs at Meta, including a massive reduction of 11,000 people in November 2023 and another culling last March. It comes on the heels of the company’s controversial axing more recently of third-party moderators in what is largely seen as a nod to conservatives and the incoming Trump administration.
Workplace experts say the layoffs signal broader trends reshaping tech talent beyond mere performance concerns.
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4. WorkLife Research: How today’s HR pros match job seekers with open roles
To better understand the policies affecting employee retention and hiring, WorkLife surveyed 123 HR professionals who work in internal operations or talent acquisition. We asked what policies most affect employee retention and the most common reasons employees leave their companies. We also asked how HR pros measure employee satisfaction and find job candidates for open positions.
Additionally, HR experts shared their insights in sit-down interviews with our research team to further delve into the way companies retain a skilled workforce, find qualified candidates for open roles and ensure workers receive proper compensation.
5. Employers unready for pay transparency – and the tough conversations it demands
The movement toward pay transparency is strengthening, albeit slowly.
At least a dozen states in the U.S. are enacting the rules, which require employers to be more open about pay, including pay ranges and gaps, and some will go into effect in the coming weeks. A similar movement is underway across the European Union via the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
However, many employers are still unprepared to comply with such rules. And many aren’t prepared to properly discuss what’s happening among their staff — especially when they bring concerns about their salaries to their managers, according to workplace experts.
Elsewhere in Digiday Media
Check out some of Digiday Media’s other stories on the future of work over the past week:
This is a weekly compilation of highlights from WorkLife’s daily newsletter. Sign up here to get WorkLife’s comprehensive work coverage in your inbox each morning.
This newsletter was curated by Courtney Marabella, senior social media/audience manager for Digiday. Let us know what you think, or what you hope to see more of, by dropping us a note at courtney@digiday.com.