Increasing numbers of companies are expecting employees to be back in the office—either full time or on a hybrid basis. And it seems that RTO mandates (return-to-office mandates), both by the government and by high-profile companies are influencing the increase.
If you’re a leader, you’re wise to consider future of work trends, since the context outside your doors will affect people’s expectations and your ability to attract and retain talent. Employees are looking for meaningful work as well as flexibility and quality of work-life. Likewise, if you’re an employee, you want to know what to expect in the job market—and its effects on your career.
New data can provide a helpful comparison to what other organizations are requiring in terms of their return to office approaches and RTO mandates–and a barometer on how these affect the market for talent.
RTO Mandates Matter
Companies report they have been influenced by major corporations that have announced requirements for people to be in the office. In fact, 54% say they have been at least somewhat influenced by these. And 35% of companies report that the executive order requiring the return of federal employees has affected their approaches. All of this is according to a survey by Resume Templates.
On a related note, a survey by TopResume found that about 17% of employees said they would quit if they were required to be in the office full time. Meanwhile, 30% of respondents reported to Bevi, that they have thought about leaving an organization because of their organization’s RTO policies—and not necessarily because they want to be in the office less.
Policies related to where people work obviously have a significant influence on people’s quality of work and life. When they’re heading back to the office—and present in person more frequently–people tend to enjoy higher pay and greater likelihood of promotion as well as the opportunity to feel more connected with colleagues.
At the same time, flexible work really works—with people reporting they are more innovative, connected with company culture and less likely to feel burnout when they have more flexibility in their schedules.
It’s an issue of matching: At different stages of life, you’ll place a higher priority on various elements of work-life, from career growth or time with family to connections with colleagues and the like—and you’ll choose trade-offs related to when, where and how you work.
Trends in Attendance and RTO Mandates
So what are today’s patterns of attendance and in-office work?
Companies are increasingly expecting employees to be in the office, and employees are increasingly present onsite.
- 60% of remote workers say their employers are requiring more time in the office, according to data from TopResume.
- 28% of workers–up from 19%–reported to Bevi that expectations for in-office work had risen to three or more days per week.
- 40% of workers are required to be in the office five days a week, according to Bevi’s qualitative employee survey. This is reinforced by data from TopResume in which 38% of employees say they are required to be in the office five days a week.
- 22% of companies report they have returned to a fully in-office approach, and another 5% expect to mandate the same this year, according to Resume Template data.
- In-office attendance has reached 66% of pre-pandemic levels according to a separate report from Bevi which is based on quantitative usage data.
Importantly, although expectations for in-office time are rising, the Bevi survey also found that 80% of employees believe their organization’s RTO requirements are fair.
Attendance patterns are also evident by looking at regions. Los Angeles has reached 80% of pre-pandemic attendance levels, Boston 57%, Chicago 56%, New York 55%, and San Francisco is at 52% of pre-pandemic levels, according to Bevi’s usage data.
Trends are also evident within industries.
- Manufacturing organizations are seeing attendance at 76% of pre-pandemic levels.
- Arts, entertainment and recreation are at 75%.
- Professional, scientific and technical industries are at 61%.
- Finance and insurance organizations are at 59%.
- Tech and information organizations are 52%.
In addition, employees are generally showing up in the greatest numbers mid-week, with 80% of employees who prefer to be in the office on Wednesday—and who prefer Tuesdays as a close second–according to Bevi.
In addition, people appear to prefer morning attendance–with about 3% more showing up in the office during the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. compared with 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., based on Bevi data.
Drivers for In-Office Work
When asked why in-office work was important, 68% of companies cited collaboration and teamwork as major factors, while 64% said productivity was the driver. In addition, 61% believe in-person work helps with communication and 59% say it makes management easier—and 45% say it contributes to organizational culture, based on Resume Template data.
Employees say their drivers for being in the office are productivity, collaboration and career growth. These were reported by all generations, according to Bevi.
Interestingly, 56% of people reported to Bevi that amenities such as coffee, water, food, work-out facilities and the like would motivate them to be on-site more frequently.
And it’s not surprising that for 50% of people, the biggest barrier to being in the office is the commute—followed by childcare–according to the Bevi survey.
Hybrid and Remote Work Remain
But despite the rise of in-office work. Hybrid approaches are likely also here to stay.
In fact, 59% of companies allow hybrid work for certain positions. There are trade-offs however—with 20% of companies that pay hybrid workers less than in-office workers. In addition, 65% of organizations allow some employees to work fully remote, while 7% pay these workers less than their in-office counterparts. This is according to Resume Template data.
Organizations expect to reduce remote work options, with only 6% of businesses that expect to remain fully remote through the end of the year, based on Resume Template.
The reasons for hybrid work and remote work? Companies report to Resume Template that they embrace remote and hybrid work to attract and retain talent—and because they want to positively impact employee satisfaction and work-life choices.
RTO Tracking and Enforcement
For companies that require some in-office work, they are increasingly tracking and enforcing attendance, with 34% of organizations reporting to Resume Template they are doing badge tracking.
In addition, 32% of employers consider attendance in performance evaluations and 29% take it into account when deciding on salary increases or promotions. And among employers that expect people to be in the office five days a week, 47% intend to enforce compliance using discipline or termination. All this is according to Resume Template data.
Impact of RTO Mandates
As leaders establish RTO mandates and expectations, they are wise to consider both organizational needs and the results they’re trying to drive—as well as their talent markets. And of course they should consider impacts on employees.
The most effective organizations provide clarity about the mechanics of where, when and how people work as well as why behind their expectations. Smart employers also ensure there is equity across employees—with job requirements and performance driving the degree of flexibility they offer.
The landscape of work continues to evolve—and it’s likely that while RTO mandates are expanding, hybrid work will be here to stay as well.