Remote work changed from being a practical option for the lucky few, to a global norm when the 2020 Covid lockdowns forced us all into isolation. We had to adapt quickly to set up home offices and designated workspaces, and for the most part, it worked well.

Employees were able to save on travelling costs, childcare, and corporate workwear. Arguably, the most valuable thing that working from home (WFH) saved for us was time – time that would have been lost to commuting in traffic, or getting ready to go into the office. Instead, you could spend that time on family bonding and your other life goals.

Why are companies going back to the office?

WFH doesn’t suit everyone. Some employees find that they miss the human interaction and team connections that they enjoy in the office. In their experience, group projects are easier with all the collaborators in the same place, rather than connecting only via digital meeting platforms. And some living situations make WFH much harder – for instance, noisy construction, power tools, or industries nearby, or frequent work interruptions by neighbours and family members, are more likely than they are in an office environment. WFH can even lead you into an ‘always available’ relationship with your job that throws off your work–life balance.

In many businesses, a hybrid system is now in place, with employees coming into the office for a set number of days a week and working remotely the rest of the time. However, several companies have decided that it’s time for employees to return to the office (RTO) permanently. To justify their RTO policies, most of these businesses quote hard data as evidence that getting employees back into the office is a strategic move to protect productivity, performance, and long-term growth. Microsoft internal studies showed that WFH employees spent 25% less time collaborating across teams, which raised concerns about silo thinking and knowledge sharing.

Other common reasons for RTO policies:

• Creating a strong company culture. Employers see being physically together as strengthening company culture and engagement.
  
  
• Training and mentoring. Especially in the case of junior employees, graduates, and interns, gaining on-the-job experience and job shadowing is often easier and more effective in person.
  
  
• Client service. In some industries, like customer services and consulting, face-to-face interactions strengthen client relationships and business outcomes.

Impact on work–life balance

Although RTO may boost productivity, collaboration, and innovation in a business, it can affect your ability to set work–life boundaries to an even greater extent than WFH. While your employer is focused on strategic gains and KPIs, you might be more worried about the personal costs of RTO, which do raise some valid concerns.

Studies and reports show some disturbing trends:

• Commuting stress has re-emerged as a major source of burnout. Last year, reports showed that about 37% of South Africans spent 16–30 minutes driving to work, while 18% got to the office in under 15 minutes, and 22% took between 31 and 45 minutes. Only a third of South Africans own a car, so most rely on public transport like taxis and trains.
  
  
• Fuel costs are up, putting additional strain on household budgets. In April 2020, the petrol price was around R13.76/l for inland motorists, and R13.25/l at the coast. In April 2025, costs were R21.62/l and R20.79/l, respectively – an increase of 57%.
  
  
• If you’re a working parent, you’ll have the pressure of juggling your kids’ lives as well as your own. Everything from arranging after-school care to managing the school run could be more of a challenge without the flexibility that remote work allowed.
  
  
• Wardrobe expenses, dry cleaning, lunches, and transport can also add to your financial strain and mental stress.

How to manage office life without breaking the bank

If your company has made the call to RTO, you can take these steps to help the transition:

• To cut down on travel costs, carpool or use public transport whenever possible. Join community group chats or work networks to find other people in your area who would like to travel with you. You can alternate who drives on a daily or weekly roster, so that everyone gets days when they can relax and not stress about driving in traffic.
  
  
• Plan your outfits smartly by building a versatile capsule wardrobe so that you don’t have to shop too often. Invest in a few neutral goes-with-everything pieces to mix and match. Ignore fast fashion and stick to long-lasting styles that suit you.
  
  
• Pack meals instead of buying lunch daily – it’s healthier and cheaper. Pop by grocery stores after work and have a look at the fruit and veg section, since many stores mark down fresh produce towards the end of the day.
  
  
• Speak to your manager if you foresee a frequent need to use your lunch break to run urgent errands or pick up your kids from school. Discuss how you are going to manage your time under RTO rules. If you think you’ll regularly need more than an hour to deal with other commitments in your day, suggest making up the time before or after regular office hours.

Offset some of the extra costs of going back to the office by earning Greenbacks on your card and fuel spending, to make travelling, shopping, and after-school care more affordable. If you need help to reorganise your finances, contact our financial advisers to explore the best way to manage your income and expenses.