In an effort to persuade employees that returning to the office is a good idea, employers have leaned on promises of improved communication and intentional collaboration. But do these promises actually mean anything, or are they just corporate buzzwords?
Ninety percent of companies plan to implement return-to-office policies by the end of 2024, and of the decision makers who have already done so, 63% report an increase in retention, compared to 19% who said bringing employees back drove retention down, according to data from Resume Builder. But obstacles such as long commutes, expensive child care and a general question of “Why are we here?” all make a strong case for staying remote — 50% of employees believe they can do their jobs from home full-time, and 90% of those say they do not wish to return to the office five days a week, according to Gallup. That means employers need to do more than just bring people back to shared space and hope for the best.
