🏢 Should we return to the office?

Happy Saturday! It’s August 19 — people are talking about the pros and cons of in-office work, the trend of people cutting off their parents, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly.

🏢 In the news: Should we return to the office?

Some new research says return-to-office orders are hurting recruitment. Is in-office working culture worth the sacrifice it requires?

🏢 Fortune says return-to-office (RTO) orders backfire. 29% of companies with RTO orders have struggled with recruitment.

🏢 Bloomberg agrees: Elite workers want flexible working environments. RTO orders kill recruitment efforts, and the labor market is still pretty tight.

🏢 The WSJ says the orders may not actually work very well, anyway. Some bosses say they don't even have a plan in place to enforce RTO orders.

🏢 But the NYT disagrees, saying people should return to the office — spending time with coworkers is vital for personal and professional growth.

🏢 A different Bloomberg take: If companies really want their employees in the office, they should make the office a place people actually want to be! If it’s an inclusive and collaborative space, people will tolerate the commute.

👨‍👩‍👦 Cultural trend: Cutting off your parents

It seems like more people are cutting their parents out of their lives entirely. Is this actually a new trend — and is it a good idea?

👨‍👩‍👦 Cosmopolitan says more kids seem to be going "no-contact" with their parents. Some of it is a generational difference, but it's also a survival mechanism for traumatized kids.

👨‍👩‍👦 This Reddit thread thinks it's not a new thing — estrangement is old as time. And hopefully the stigma dies out, because no one should be judged for making such a difficult choice.

👨‍👩‍👦 Missy Jocad says on TikTok that if your kids cut you off, there's probably a good reason. Listen to them, change your behavior, and start making amends.

👨‍👩‍👦 Parents.com says not to estrange your parents. Go to therapy and learn to forgive. A healthy relationship is possible, even if they can't always support you.

Quick hits

🚨 Herman Andaya resigned as Maui's emergency management chief after being criticized for not using the island’s siren system during the fires. (WaPo)

⛈ Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County are all under a tropical storm watch for the first time in history. (KPAX)

⚔️ The Ukrainian military took back the village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region of east Ukraine. (CNN)

📣 Trump plans to skip the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday by sitting for an online interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. (NYT)

That’s it for today! Reply at [email protected] to let me know what you think of our newsletter, or to suggest a topic for next time.

Here at Shades we’re trying something new – quick summaries from different points of view. We think it’s a better way to stay informed and see the big picture. Please reach out if you’re curious to learn more!

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)