Workers and companies continue to clash over return-to-office (RTO) policies, with Amazon recently making headlines for mandating a five-day in-office workweek.
In September, ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,030 U.S.-based full-time employees working for companies that implemented an RTO policy since 2020, now requiring employees to go into the office at least once per week.
Key findings:
- 1 in 5 workers aren’t following their company’s RTO policy
- The majority of workers want to be in-office 3 days or less per week
- Many workers will quit if their company forces compliance
- 68% say their productivity would improve if they could choose their own schedule
1 in 5 Workers Admit They Aren’t Following RTO Policy
This survey reveals that one in five workers are not strictly following their company’s RTO policies. While 78% of employees claim to fully abide by their company’s RTO rules, 18% mostly follow them but occasionally work around the policy. A smaller group admits to more frequent non-compliance, with 2% rarely following the policy and 1% not following it at all.
Compliance varies depending on the workers’ schedules. Those on a hybrid schedule show higher rates of non-compliance. Among workers required to be in the office one to three days a week, only 61% fully abide by the RTO policy.
Workers are finding creative ways to get around these rules. Some employees enlist the help of a co-worker to swipe or sign them in. Others take advantage of non-workdays to get a swipe to make it appear as though they have adhered to their required office days. The most common way workers are skirting these policies is simply by leaving the office early.
Half of Coffee Badgers Will Quit if Company Cracks Down on Compliance
The current tension around RTO policies isn’t just about following the rules — it’s also related to employee satisfaction. When asked about their current RTO policy, 31% of workers report being very satisfied, while 34% are somewhat satisfied. A notable portion remain ambivalent or dissatisfied, with 14% feeling neutral, 13% somewhat dissatisfied, and 8% very dissatisfied.
If companies start cracking down on compliance, 20% of workers say they are very likely to leave, and an additional 33% are somewhat likely to follow suit. This means that over half of these employees, often referred to as “coffee badgers,” could be pushed to quit if stricter measures are implemented.
“Today’s workforce enjoys flexibility and choices that were unprecedented before COVID-19. Remote work, once considered a temporary solution, has now become a preferred option for many employees due to convenience, work-life balance, and the ability to avoid long commutes. While many companies adopted more flexible work-from-home policies during the pandemic, many are now reversing course, requiring employees to return to the office as they reshape their long-term work models,” says Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller.
“However, for many employees, remote work has become a non-negotiable part of their professional lives. As companies attempt to reinstate in-office requirements, there has been pushback from workers. Employers should know job seekers today still have options if they are looking to work remotely.”
Raises would increase worker satisfaction with RTO policy
Respondents identified several challenges with their current RTO policies, including commute time (45%), lack of flexibility in work hours (34%), commute cost (33%), difficulty balancing personal responsibilities (29%), office distractions (26%), and reduced productivity compared to remote work (24%).
When asked what would improve their satisfaction with their current RTO policy, 67% of respondents pointed to a raise. Other factors included flexible start and end times (51%), transportation benefits (30%), a lunch allowance (28%), catered lunch (26%), and an employee wellness program (23%).
“Once workers experience the benefits of remote work, many are reluctant to return to traditional office settings,” says Haller. “For organizations, this presents a challenge in retaining top talent. Companies must carefully balance their desire for an in-office presence with the preferences of their workforce, or they risk losing valuable employees to more flexible competitors. As the workforce continues to evolve, employers will need to be strategic in accommodating these new expectations if they want to stay competitive and attract and retain talent.”
7 in 10 Say Autonomy Over Work Location Schedule Would Boost Productivity
When asked if their productivity would improve if they could choose how many days to work from the office, 37% of respondents strongly agreed, while 31% agreed.
Currently, 45% of workers feel very productive, and 44% feel somewhat productive on office days. However, 8% do not feel very productive, and 3% don’t feel productive at all. Dissatisfaction with RTO policies impacts productivity, with 25% of those unhappy with their company’s policy saying they are not very productive (18%) or not productive at all (8%) when in the office.
The top reasons for reduced productivity include interruptions from colleagues or management (72%), a noisy environment (69%), being drained from the commute (54%), and feeling less focused in the office (50%). Other factors are social distractions (48%), too many meetings (35%), and an unsuitable office layout (31%). A smaller percentage (6%) cited a lack of access to necessary tools or technology.
“It has become increasingly clear that productivity varies significantly based on individual preferences and work settings. Some employees thrive in structured office environments, while many find that working from home allows them to be more efficient and productive.
“This shift highlights an important trend where employees now expect more control over where and how they work. On the employer side, many organizations are still struggling to adjust, often implementing policies that may not stand the test of time.
“The future of work is likely to continue shifting towards more flexible, hybrid, or remote models. Workers are making it clear that they value flexibility, and companies that fail to adapt risk losing talent to competitors offering more adaptable work environments,” says Haller.
Methodology
This survey launched in September 2024, was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the polling platform Pollfish. Overall, 1,030 U.S.-based full-time workers completed the full survey. Appropriate respondents were found via demographic criteria and screening questions. Respondents had to answer that they currently work for a company that has implemented a return-to-office policy since 2020.
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