### Office Foot Traffic Slows in February 2025
Return-to-work (RTO) mandates appear to be on the rise, with many government and private sector employees being directed to return to the office full-time. However, despite ongoing headlines promoting RTO efforts, Placer.ai’s February 2025 Office Index reported that nationwide office visits remained 36.3% lower than in February 2019.
Additionally, most cities saw year-over-year declines in office visits.
### Digging Beneath the RTO Headlines
So, what’s happening? According to Ethan Chernofsky, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Placer.ai, while RTO mandates are driving some level of office recovery, most still include elements of hybrid work.
“In other words, while headlines suggest organizations want employees back in the office full-time, hybrid and remote work remain a significant part of the equation,” Chernofsky told *Connect CRE*. “The current status in cities more impacted by RTO mandates indicates the success of these approaches, but it also highlights the staying power of hybrid work—arguably one of the most enduring changes brought about by the pandemic.”
### Location, Location, Location
Office traffic in February varied depending on location.
The report indicated that New York City and Miami are leading the nationwide office recovery, followed by Atlanta, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Dallas. San Francisco also outperformed Chicago, possibly signaling that RTO mandates in the tech sector are beginning to move the needle in the country’s tech capital.
Chernofsky noted that cities showing stronger office traffic have adapted to a “new normal,” meaning further shifts in office visits are unlikely. However, cities lagging behind in the return-to-office transition could still see significant improvements.
Other factors, such as weather and the timing of holidays, may also play a role in office visitation trends. “The February results are within expected fluctuations, particularly for cities more affected by inclement weather,” Chernofsky said.
### Should We Be Concerned?
Not necessarily, according to Chernofsky. He emphasized that it is too early to consider February’s numbers a definitive trend.
“For most top cities, we are currently operating in the office new normal,” he explained. “Cities that are lagging might experience a more gradual recovery, or we could see businesses strategically relocating based on their approach to office visitation.”
The long-term trajectory of office foot traffic remains uncertain, but hybrid work appears to be here to stay.
