Isabelle Lopez
DARE Project: Return-to-Office Mandates in Canada: Policy Rationales and Worker Responses
Program(s) of Study: Global Work and Labour Studies and Law & Society
Project Supervisor: Carlo Fanelli
Through my DARE experience, I recognized the complexity of conducting research at scale. During my project, I was not answering a question; rather, I was expanding my knowledge on these Return-to-Office mandates. At times, I recognized that research roadblocks are real, especially with the amount of information I was gathering. However, this gave me a much greater perspective and appreciation of research papers and how much time and effort goes into conducting research.
Project Description:
Through my DARE research project, I have explored the implications of Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates for both employees and employers. This research examined the policies, procedures, and strategies organizations have implemented to support the transition back to in-person work. Throughout the project, I analyzed how both public and private sector organizations have adopted and adapted to these mandates, with a particular focus on the Provincial Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. My role in this project was to review and analyze research findings related to the impacts of RTO mandates on workplace dynamics. Specifically, I investigated how these policies have influenced factors such as work-life balance, organizational culture, and job autonomy. Through this analysis, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing Return-to-Office initiatives across different sectors.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.