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It’s been more than four years since the pandemic hit the US and made remote work more common, and as companies continue to try to lure workers back to the office, some workers say they are ignoring requests.
A new survey from ResumeBuilder.com found one in five employees admit they don’t follow their employer’s back-to-the-office (RTO) policies, with others admitting to leaving early or asking co-workers to swipe or sign while they’re away – and the most common policy violators are those who work a mixed schedule.
As many as 20% of workers admit to overdoing their employers’ return-to-the-office rules, according to a new survey from ResumeBuilder. (iStock/Getty Images)
In a survey of more than 1,000 workers, 20% of respondents said they would quit their job if their employer started to tighten compliance with RTO rules, while another 33% said they were more likely to follow suit.
When asked about the findings, Stacie Haller, senior career consultant at ResumeBuilder said that today’s workers want more flexibility and control over how they work, and now have more choices than ever.
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“Many workers resist returning to the office full-time because of the increased costs associated with commuting and the impact on their work-life balance,” Haller told FOX Business. “Additional expenses for travel, food, and services such as pet sitting or additional child care are often considered a reduction in their take-home pay, making the return-to-office policy feel like a reduction in pay.”
Commuting time was cited as the top challenge for employees with their employer’s return-to-the-office policy. (iStock / Stock)
The survey results also identified challenges employees have with their current RTO policies, top being commuting time (45%), lack of flexibility in working hours (34%) and travel costs (33%). Employees say that promotions, flexible start and end times, and travel benefits will improve their satisfaction with their current RTO policy.
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Haller said employers who fail to acknowledge these concerns risk losing talent to companies that offer flexible arrangements. He argues that the need for a comfortable work environment is not just a passing trend, but a shift that reflects broader changes in how people prioritize their time, money, and job satisfaction.
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Employers seeking a full back-to-the-office (RTO) policy are likely to see increased staffing, Haller said, and noted that some companies may be using RTO fraud as a way to reduce staff without resorting to legal action. to be laid off.
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That approach, he said, allows businesses to reduce staff while avoiding the severance packages, legal issues, or negative pressure that can come with traditional downsizing methods.
Still, “Ultimately, strict RTO requirements risk driving away top talent, especially in a job market where workers now have more flexibility and choice than ever before,” Haller said. “Organizations that fail to adapt will lose out over time to those that embrace hybrid and remote work models.”