A new study has found that many bosses regret their initial return-to-office plans, as employees are increasingly demanding flexibility and control over their work arrangements. The study, conducted by Envoy, surveyed over 1,000 company executives and workplace managers in the United States. It found that 80% of respondents said they would have made different decisions about returning to the office if they had a better understanding of what their employees wanted.
Office Spaces Becoming A Problem
A study by Envoy found that many bosses are having trouble determining the success of their in-office policies and making long-term investments in office space and infrastructure without knowing how employees will feel about working in the office in the future.
Some executives are frustrated by the difficulty of measuring the effectiveness of in-office policies, while others are concerned about making long-term real estate commitments without knowing how employees will feel about returning to the office in the near future.
Larry Gadea, CEO and founder of Envoy, said that many companies are realizing that they could have been more measured in their approach to the return to office, rather than making big, bold, and controversial decisions based on executives’ opinions rather than employee data.
Companies that Mandated Strict Return to Office Suffering The Most
Companies that mandated a strict return to the office without employee input are facing challenges in retaining and recruiting talent. Some of these companies have even scaled back the number of in-office days they require in response to employee backlash.
According to new data from WFH Research, as of July 2023, 59% of full-time employees are back to being 100% on-site, while 29% are in a hybrid arrangement and 12% are completely remote. However, offices are still only half full compared to their pre-pandemic occupancy.
Update On Zoom, Disney, Starbucks, and BlackRock
Major corporations across industries are mandating that employees return to the office, citing the need for in-person collaboration. This includes companies such as Disney, Starbucks, and BlackRock.
Zoom, the video conferencing company, has reversed its policy on remote work. Previously, employees could choose to work from home full-time, in the office full-time, or in a hybrid arrangement. However, the company has now announced that employees who live within a 50-mile radius of a Zoom office will need to come in at least twice a week. This is a significant shift from the company’s previous policy, and it is likely to be met with resistance from some employees.
Source: MSN
