Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of U.S. employers have implemented a formal policy that requires employees in the office for a minimum number of days a week, according to a new survey by WTW.
The survey, which polled more than 300 employers, found the push for increased onsite work is driven by the belief that face-to-face interactions boost employee engagement within teams (84 per cent), strengthen corporate culture (71 per cent) and increase collective productivity by promoting personal interaction of teams (64 per cent).
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However, this contrasts the leading benefits of remote work noted by employers, including promoting attraction and retention of specific roles that could not be filled without remote work options (84 per cent), increased engagement through improved work-life balance (78 per cent) and greater employee retention (76 per cent).
And, despite the implementation of formal in-office policies, more than half (51 per cent) of organizations said they have no set rules to determine onsite working days, allowing employees to choose the days they work remotely without restrictions.
Organizations appear to be taking a gentler approach to employees having an onsite presence, as 59 per cent said they aren’t currently promoting bringing employees back into the office and 27 per cent said they’re improving office facilities, such as improved dining facilities and gyms, to entice in-person interaction.
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A separate WTW survey of more than 10,000 U.S. employees found more than half (53 per cent) of employees who can work remotely said they’d look to change jobs within 12 months if their employer mandated a full-time return-to-office policy. Almost half (48 per cent) of hybrid and remote workers reported they’d be willing to take a pay cut of eight per cent on average in order to have work flexibility.
“There will be a competitive advantage for those organizations able to create and sustain a balance that achieves their business objectives and employees’ desire for choice,” said Jill Havely, managing director of employee experience at WTW, in a press release.
“Progressive organizations are engaging with their employees in meaningful and intentional ways to understand their evolving needs and create a work environment that allows every employee to do their best work. This means understanding the needs of various workstyles, including remote workers.”
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