What Does An RTO Specialist Do?

In this guide, a Return to Office (RTO) Specialist coordinates an employer’s office-return arrangements, with a scope agreed with that employer. This office-planning role is separate from injury- or illness-related return-to-work support.

These specialists focus on providing information and directly working with the employer. The most important part of their job process is to plan. So there is more to their specialization where they're analyzing your workplace and work arrangement. 

This will address what employers and executives within the company are looking for to improve and get their employees back into their offices. 

Talent Pool for Return to Office 

The Talent Pool for RTO brings new insights into how we work with change and having these specialists. After the pandemic, we have adapted to the new work model, but now some more changes are coming along in the workforce for GENZ employees. 

The following bullets describe separate injury- or illness-related return-to-work support, not an office-return job specification. WSIB’s program, for example, includes help with return-to-work plans, accommodations and vocational rehabilitation:

• Inform you and your employer about the return-to-work procedure and inform you both of your rights and responsibilities.
• Find the problems that stand in the way of your return to work and the necessary intervention(s) to solve them for a successful return to work outcome.
• assisting you and your employer in creating a strategy for your eventual return to your prior position, with or without modifications.
• Assist you and your employer in coordinating your return to work, which may require additional accommodations and/or a move to a different position with your current employer or with a different employer if necessary. Provide expert guidance, vocational rehabilitation planning, and support.

Is a Specialist Needed for Return To Office (RTO)?  

The following 2022–2023 reports provide historical context, not a measure of what all employers require today, a recommended schedule or proof that every organisation needs a specialist. Microsoft’s 2022 figure concerns surveyed leaders in information-worker roles, excluding frontline leaders.

In 2022, CNBC revealed that “about  50% of leaders say their company already requires or is planning to require employees to return to in-person work full-time in the next year, according to new research from Microsoft, which surveyed 31,102 workers around the world between January and February.” - With 5 days work week to return to the office. 

In 2023, CNBC reported debate over three office days per week, described as a “norm” at many companies. Great Place to Work CEO Michael Bush argued that the number needed a reason, rather than being treated as a best practice. His criticism of some leaders’ control issues was attributed opinion, not a finding about all employers. 

Why we need an RTO Specialist in action?

For your office-return project, agree the coordinator’s scope and ask for three handoffs: a written process for office/hybrid arrangements, employee requests and how decisions are made; a record of employee questions and consultation with employees and their representatives; and an agreed date to review arrangements after a trial. These suggestions draw on Acas’s home and hybrid working policy guidance, rather than a universal specialist job standard. Office attendance should reflect your organisation’s needs and the arrangements agreed with staff, not a fixed number of days.

Here is what comes in handy with making sure you have the correct resources and are highly recommended by Litespace:

1. Flexible Return to Office Plan  
2. Hybrid Work Policy 
3. Return to Office Survey 
4. Sample of Return to Office Survey  

These 4 resources will provide a brief overview to be prepared while you're looking for an RTO Specialist.

Why Retention?

Retention is what is driving these RTO Specialists to find talent to be retained and be able to measure employees' long-term work since options are limited for any employer hiring. Some companies are taking talent risks and that brings working conditions to provide flexibility. 

To Retain - Employees that should have a purpose that builds on their vision and mission statement. 

Nowadays, purpose matters and some of them are to keep building and learning. All about growth and maintaining a balance in talent recruitment brings a lot of concerns about picking the right candidate for the job. 

RTO Specialist(s) will analyze all of that to create growth and opportunity to keep developing at your job. Recruiting fresh talent brings a lot to the table since what they want to do is learn and get the proper training which is a crucial part of the job when you're being onboarded. 

1. Create a set pace for all employees to learn 
2. New Talent brings new skills in handling situations 
3. Making sure employees' workplace and workspace arrangements are properly provided 
4. Using the resources to set a mandate or plan make sure it is revised by the specialist since you will change and understand it takes some time to adapt to new policies or mandates set by employers, managers, or executives. 

These are some openers to getting started with RTO specialists when you're in the retention zone in developing learnings from your employees and have an actionable start for better flexibility.