News channel producer quits after RTO mandate: 'Never want to work in an office again'

A news channel producer spent nearly 25 years working in New York City and Washington, DC. She loved her job and when in 2020 she, along with other employees of the television channel, was directed to work from home, she loved her job even more because it offered her a better work-life balance. Jennifer Oliva, 50, used the extra hours that were otherwise spent commuting to and fro from work, to improve her health and spend time with her children. All of that changed once her company announced a return-to-office policy in 2021. Olivia tried to adapt to resuming work in the office, but when she realised it was not working out for her, she quit.

Now, Oliva -- a single mother of two -- is an entrepreneur with a thriving business.

"I spent almost 25 years working as a network television producer in New York City and Washington, DC. I loved my job, and even though it often involved long hours, it was thrilling," she told Business Insider. Oliva added that she used to spend 2.5 hours commuting daily but had accepted it as a normal part of her routine because she had done it for many years.

"I used to walk to the train station, take a 50-minute train ride, and then a 15-minute subway ride uptown. I'd start my day at 7.30 am and get home around 7.30 pm," she said. "In the mornings, I'd do work on the train, but on the way home, I'd just decompress and watch TV shows on my phone. I always felt like I could've used that hour and a half to be with my kids or take care of important household tasks."