Across the tech industry, our employers are increasingly imposing RTO mandates, despite seeing improvements in the productivity, wellbeing and finances of employees who work from home. These changes often disproportionately affect parents, carers, people with disabilities and those on lower incomes. Sometimes these mandates are used to force people out so that employers can avoid following the legal redundancy process.

UTAW has a full RTO guide, which covers your individual rights from a contractual and employment law perspective.

But fights aren’t won individually, real change happens through collective action…

Recently the Office of National Statistics gave up forcing PCS members into the office because the members stood their ground and fought back collectively.

You can do this too!

What you can do before RTO is announced

Your best defence is always to handle it collectively.

• Build a strong workplace union now.
• You have very little power alone, but when working together, it becomes impossible for your management to ignore you.
• If you wait until RTO is announced, you’re already a step behind.
• By building your power now, you will be ready and organised to fight back when unpopular policies, such as RTO, AI and other attacks on your terms and conditions, happen.

What to do if RTO is announced

Get in touch with the reps team at UTAW for advice. Every situation is different, and sometimes submitting a Flexible Working Request immediately can be a mistake, so speak to a rep or ask for advice on the UTAW Discord first.

Speak to your colleagues, talk about it together, find out your common issues. Start planning your campaign!

All UTAW members have access to comprehensive organising training to give you the tools you need to build power in your workplace.