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News » 83% of CEOs push for full-time office return: KPMG survey

83% of CEOs push for full-time office return: KPMG survey

Return to office

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Chief executive officers (CEOs) of major U.S. companies are increasingly favoring a return to full-time office work

A recent KPMG US survey conducted with 1,325 CEOs between July 25 and August 29, 2024 reveals that 83% of big-company CEOs expect employees to be back in the office full-time within the next three years.

This sentiment marks a dramatic change from previous surveys, where only 64% of corporate heads in 2023 anticipated a full return to in-person work.

KPMG US Chair and CEO Paul Knopp acknowledged this growing sentiment but noted that some flexibility may still remain for employees, even as companies return to pre-pandemic office setups. 

“There’s still likely to be a lot of flexibility,” Knopp told the Business Insider, citing adjustments such as more flexible morning hours and reduced evening or weekend work.

Major companies leading the return-to-office charge

While the trend towards full-time office work is growing, some major companies have already implemented strict in-office policies:

  • Amazon: Recently announced that most corporate workers must return to the office five days a week starting in 2025.
  • Blue Origin: Jeff Bezos’ space exploration company adopted a full-time, in-office policy before Amazon, describing itself as a “work-from-work company.”
  • Goldman Sachs: CEO David Solomon has mandated at least five days a week in the office for over a year, even tracking employee attendance.
  • Tesla and SpaceX: Elon Musk has strongly opposed remote work, requiring a full-time office presence at both companies.

The KPMG US report also revealed a generational divide in the CEOs’ sentiments:  87% of CEOs aged 60-69 predicted a full RTO, while 83% of those aged 50-59 anticipate an RTO shift. Seventy-five percent of business leaders aged 40-49 did so. Meanwhile more male CEOs (84%) expect a full RTO scene compared to 78% of top female executives.  

The impact of AI and changing workforce demographics

The KPMG US survey also highlighted CEOs’ concerns about the aging workforce and the impact of generative AI. Eight in ten chiefs agreed that companies should invest in skills development and “lifelong learning” to maintain access to talent.

Moreover, about one in three CEOs admitted that retirements and a lack of skilled replacements would heavily impact their company. Gen Z workers are poised to outnumber baby boomers this year, bringing with them a fresh set of expectations and challenges for employers. 

Interestingly, 76% of CEOs believe that GenAI won’t significantly impact their employee numbers.

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