By Claire Moraa
- 73% of employees would reconsider their positions if mandated to return to the office
- Employee productivity grew by 4.4% at the start of the pandemic with most people working remotely
The pandemic era has been long over and the crème de la crème in most workplaces have been calling for a return-to-office hoping to restore a sense of traditional work culture. Their claim is that physical presence at the office will boost productivity yet studies suggest that this push overlooks the evolving preferences of employees who value flexibility. Further, employee productivity peaked during the pandemic and rose by 4.4% in 2020.
Why This Matters: The RTO is widespread as 90% of 1,000 companies sampled, said they’d implement the return-to-work policies by the end of 2024. Among them, 30% were willing to go as far as firing those who did not comply. What top executives are failing to see or just outright ignoring is that the underdogs who would be at their beckon call are transitioning into the retirement group. They’ll be left with Gen Zs. Gen Zs are no pushovers. In fact, 30% would rather quit their jobs if there’s no option to work remotely. As they chase ‘productivity’ to justify office occupancy, they’re losing out on employee satisfaction, retention, and the potential benefits of flexible work arrangements that can boost overall performance and innovation.
Granted there are working models that require physical attendance but as a manager, it’s more about a work structure that translates to tangible results at the end of the financial year rather than aiming for four-day occupancy at the office with disgruntled employees. It’s time to reconsider whether the RTO policies are benefitting the company because 73% of employees reconsidering their positions if forced to go back to the office shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Situational Awareness: Whether top managers like it or not, there needs to be a critical reevaluation of work structures and the recognition that productivity is not solely dependent on physical proximity in the office. Understanding and addressing the multifaceted elements that contribute to productivity can lead to more effective strategies for employee engagement and organizational success in a dynamic work landscape.
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