After years of working in pajamas and attending meetings from the kitchen table, the corporate drumbeat is getting louder: it is time to come back to the office. But is this a revival of teamwork—or the start of a workplace rebellion? In today’s episode, we explore the forces behind the return-to-office push, and what it means for the future of work.
This is Back to Office: Revival or Rebellion?, where we peel back the glossy HR memos and dig into what is really driving this movement. And to help us do just that, we have someone who lives and breathes employee relations every single day.
Our esteemed guest for today’s episode, Sri Lak Jayathma, is the Lead for Employee Relations and Compensation at Al Fardan Exchange L.L.C. in the United Arab Emirates. Sri Lak is a seasoned Human Resource professional with over 13 years of experience in creating engaged workforce cultures, driving HR digitalization, managing HR operations, and championing people and culture initiatives.
Host of this Episode: Shabana Shahnaz
Guest Bio
Sri Lak Jayathma is a dynamic HR professional with over seven years of cross-industry experience, currently serving as Lead – Employee Relations and Compensation. With a career spanning the software, automotive, and financial sectors, Sri Lak specializes in HR operations and employee relations, with a passion for building inclusive and engaging workplace cultures.
Throughout her career, she has successfully led transformative initiatives such as implementing hybrid work models, redesigning global onboarding programs, and launching innovative employee engagement strategies. Known for her practical and people-centered approach, she focuses on aligning HR practices with broader business goals while keeping the employee experience at the forefront.
Sri Lak holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Northumbria University and an MBA in HR from the University of Bedfordshire. Beyond her professional achievements, she is an avid reader of emerging HR trends, a content writer, and a traveler who enjoys discovering new places and cultures.
With her expertise, passion, and hands-on leadership, Sri Lak continues to shape the future of HR by championing both organizational effectiveness and employee well-being.
Connect with Sri Lak : LinkedIn
Timestamps
(01:31) Discover the hidden drivers fueling companies’ urgency to bring employees back.
(04: 35) Hear why resistance might not be what it seems… and what it signals about the future of work.
(07:34) Examining how COVID-19 reshaped the balance of influence in the modern workplace.
(12:16) Insights into designing work models that deliver results without sacrificing agility.
(15:07) A closer look at why some roles thrive in-office—and how policy must adapt accordingly.
(18:17) Forecasting what the next decade of workplace culture could truly look like.
Do Give a Read: The Importance of Office Communication
