Resignations surge amid in-office mandates in Australia

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Approximately 31% of Australian companies are grappling with resignations prompted by mandatory in-office work policies, according to global recruitment firm Robert Half.
In its survey of 300 CFOs (Chief Financial Officers), CIOs (Chief Information Officers), and hiring managers, Robert Half revealed that 31% of respondents had at least one staff member leave in response to office work mandates.
This shift comes as major companies like Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and National Australia Bank (NAB) retract remote work allowances established during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Robert Half Director Nicole Gorton said, “Australian employer sentiments relating to working from home has shifted in the last six months… Businesses have put their foot down and allocated in-office days for their staff.”
As of last month, 87% of businesses in Australia have issued some form of in-office mandate. Four days a week is the most common mandate, with 28% of respondents granting one remote working day a week.
Of the surveyed businesses which have leveled new office mandates, 40% say it is important to have face-to-face meetings, 37% attributed the decision to productivity, while 31% said that they need to use their office spaces.
Meanwhile, 25% of respondents said that the mandate was made to look out for the progression of their younger employees.
However, Gorton said companies “should not pull back on remote work policies altogether” if they do not want to continue losing their good employees.