Rigid Office Returns Lead to Unexpected Employee Attrition

76% of employees say they would actively search for or be open to a new job if their company rolled back flexible work policies.

What’s going on:

Companies are facing retainment challenges due to the increased adoption of return-to-office policies, according to Toronto Star. The Unispace “Returning for Good” report reveals that nearly half of the companies enforcing office returns have experienced higher employee attrition than expected, with almost a third struggling with recruitment.

Additionally, the 2023 Greenhouse Candidate Experience Report, reveals that 76% of employees say they would actively search for or be open to a new job if their company rolled back flexible work policies.

Why it matters:

Data reveals that the call for employees to return to the office is causing many to search for more flexible work opportunities. Therefore, in today’s workforce, more employees are likely to consider other job options if an employer updates their flexible work arrangements.

How it’ll impact the future:

An increasing number of employers have shown a preference for hybrid work models which allow employees to balance their professional and personal lives. Companies that fail to adapt to the demand for more flexible work policies might struggle to attract and retain talent in the upcoming years. These companies will likely need to consider the impact their return to office policies will have on their talent attraction and retention in order to remain competitive moving forward.