Why RTO Mandates Persist Despite Remote Work Benefits

From "slacker" stereotypes to return-to-office mandates, why does working from home still trigger so much suspicion? In this compelling talk, Heejung Chung uses data, history, and humour to debunk the myths around remote work. A must-watch for anyone navigating post-pandemic work life.

Heejung Chung is Director of the King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and Professor of Work and Employment at King’s College London. She is a comparative labour market researcher with a focus on flexible working, home/remote working, future of work, (intersectional) gender equality and well-being outcomes. She has over two decades of experience of research and teaching. Her recent works have explored the outcomes of new types of work design on workers’ well-being outcomes and social inequalities across gender and racial lines. Her work has been influential in shaping both national (UK, Korea, Germany, Italy, Estonia etc.) and international (European Commission, OECD, ILO, UN etc.) government agencies and policy stakeholders (e.g. Trades Union Congress). She has published over 100 publications, including her recent book The Flexibility Paradox (Policy Press, 2022) and report Flexible working arrangements and gender equality in Europe(European Commission, 2024).

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx