The return-to-office debate may settling down—in a way that makes everyone unhappy

 

By Jared Lindzon

After years of flip-flopping on remote and in-person work policies, most knowledge workers and employers seem to have reached a hybrid compromise, but questions remain as to whether the truce will last.

While not every worker wants to work from home and not every employer is demanding a return to the office, studies since the pandemic have consistently shown a clear divide between the two groups. One recent report from Ringover, for example, found that two-thirds of workers would accept a lower salary for a remote role, and nearly 80% are worried about a return-to-office mandate. The study also found that in-office days have steadily increased in America, from an average of 1.1 per week in 2021 to 3.4 last year.

Employers, meanwhile, largely have sought to bring workers back into the office. In 2021, many of the biggest tech companies began rolling out the first iteration of their RTO policies, only to pivot in the face of employee backlash and new COVID variants.

The return-to-office debate may settling down—in a way that makes everyone unhappy

Fast Company – work-life

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