A recent survey conducted by productivity software company OSlash reveals that a staggering 80% of remote workers believe their employers would terminate their employment if they refused to comply with a return-to-office mandate. However, the survey also found that close to 60% of employers would be satisfied with employees resigning instead of coming back to the office. The push for a return to physical workplaces, spearheaded by prominent companies like Apple Inc. and Peloton Interactive Inc., has created a divide between workers and their bosses, as many employees are reluctant to give up the flexibility and independence they experienced during the pandemic.
Instances of employee resistance are gaining traction on social media platforms. A post on the subreddit r/antiwork that simply contained the word “no” as a response to a company-wide message became highly popular this month. Additionally, The New York Times’ attempt to welcome employees back to the office with branded lunchboxes fell flat, resulting in over 1,200 employees pledging to continue working remotely as a form of protest and to pressure the company to negotiate with the union regarding the return to the office.
According to OSlash’s survey, employers seeking to entice their employees to return to the office are considering various incentives. More money, flexible scheduling, and free food were identified as some of the most appealing incentives for workers. Alternatively, a striking four out of five employees would be willing to accept a pay cut to continue working from home, especially Gen Z workers.
Employers surveyed expressed their willingness to provide flexible scheduling options, as 60% stated they would offer hybrid work arrangements to employees who are reluctant to return to in-person work. However, 20% of employers mentioned that they would terminate workers who refuse to return to their desks, making outright refusal a risky proposition. Interestingly, slightly over 10% of business leaders acknowledged using a return-to-the-office mandate as an opportunity to terminate employees without having to go through the process of laying them off.
For those who continue to resist returning to the office, the survey reveals that more than one-third of employers perceive remote workers as more disposable compared to on-site employees.