U.S. employers rethink return-to-office policies amid employee response
VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES — Despite initial efforts to mandate office returns, employers in the United States (U.S.) are softening their stances in response to pushback and data showing mixed employee preferences.
Recent surveys reveal that the majority of executives regret their initial return-to-office decisions, lacking critical data to inform policies.
Office attendance rates in the United States (U.S.) have only reached around 50%, according to recent data from workplace analytics firm Kastle Systems.
This marks a slight improvement compared to the peak of the pandemic but suggests stalled momentum to bring employees back full-time.
A May survey by research firm Gartner of 78 human resources leaders found that while some companies are enforcing return-to-office mandates, only 42% have actually implemented such policies. Additionally, 39% reported no consequences for non-compliance.
Despite some companies enforcing return-to-office (RTO) mandates, a May Gartner survey of 78 HR leaders found only 42% implemented such policies, with 39% reporting no consequences for non-compliance.
“There’s still not a ton of compliance, and there’s still pushback from employees, so I wouldn’t say the tide has turned in terms of mandates becoming something employees are onboard with,” said Caitlin Duffy, Gartner’s research director of employee experience.
Moreover, a recent Envoy study revealed that 80% of bosses regret initial RTO decisions, highlighting the need to better understand employee needs and preferences such as commuting times, costs, and health concerns.
Natalie Norfus, an HR and recruiting expert, encouraged leaders to consider the benefits employees gain from remote work, including time saved by avoiding commutes.
A recent report from Resume Builder revealed that most firms plan office returns, but a 5-day commute is ‘dead’.
According to Gartner, forty-eight percent of employees say their office policy prioritizes what leaders want and not what employees need. And just 40% say their company considered employee feedback in its return-to-office mandate.
“As organizations get more strict with return to office mandates, employees will leave,” Duffy cautioned. “And the employees who leave first are the best talent — they have the most options.”
Previously, a survey reported that U.S. mandated office returns led to surging attrition rates.
