Return-to-office mandates put pressure on fleet and FM teams

A growing number of organisations are implementing return-to-office mandates, reversing the work-from-home flexibility introduced during the pandemic. This shift is forcing HR and facilities management teams to quickly revisit policies around business travel, parking provision, and company car eligibility as employees resume regular commutes and client visits. The change is particularly acute in service and facilities-managed businesses where field-based staff numbers are climbing again.

For fleet managers, the implications are immediate. Demand for grey-fleet mileage reimbursement is rising, pool vehicle utilisation is climbing, and questions about who qualifies for a company car are back on the table. Facilities teams meanwhile face pressure to provide adequate parking, charging infrastructure for EVs, and cost-effective mobility solutions that reflect the new—often hybrid—working patterns rather than the old five-day-week model.

Businesses should review their car and van policies now to ensure they match actual usage patterns, not pre-pandemic assumptions. Key considerations include mileage thresholds for company car eligibility, duty-of-care obligations for grey-fleet drivers, and whether salary-sacrifice EV schemes or pool arrangements offer better value. Parking and charging capacity at offices and depots will also need re-assessment, especially where EV adoption is accelerating.

Bluepoppy works with facilities management and service businesses across the South West to align fleet provision with real operational needs. Whether you're seeing a surge in business mileage, considering pool vehicles, or planning EV infrastructure for returning staff, our Fleet Cost Review can identify the most cost-effective and compliant approach. We'll help you get the balance right as your teams come back to base.

Bluepoppy view: RTO mandates demand a fresh look at mileage policy, pool cars and charging—we can help you right-size your fleet.

Source: i-FM — summarised and written from a Bluepoppy perspective. We don’t reproduce the original article.