Bosses are fighting a new battle in the RTO wars: It’s not about where you work, but when you work

For the last three years, the corporate world has been locked in a territorial dispute. The “Return to Office” (RTO) wars were defined by geography: the home versus the headquarters. But as 2025 unfolded, the frontline shifted. According to commercial real-estate giant JLL’s Workforce Preference Barometer 2025, the most critical conflict between employers and employees is no longer about location—it is about time.

While structured hybrid policies have become the norm, with 66% of global...