Ready, set and go—back to the office.
That’s the message that an increasingly large number of employers nationwide—think the likes of Google, Goldman Sachs, Tesla and Amazon—are communicating to their workforces.
In fact, an August 2024 survey of company decision-makers from ResumeBuilder.com found that:
- 9 in ten companies will return to office (RTO) by 2024.
- 72% of respondents said that RTO has improved company revenue.
- 28% stated their company “will threaten to fire employees who don’t comply with mandates.”
Mixed Feelings on a Return-to-Office Mandate
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, HR leaders have been overwhelmed with updating and revising company guidelines to best serve employees’ safety and the overall financial health of the company.
The constant back and forth has left many employers and employees alike feeling unsettled about what the future of work may look like.
According to a 2020 study by Global Workplace Analytics, if all offices were remote the savings for companies would come to an incredible $700 billion a year.
However, many employees have expressed reticence about a complete return to work, leaving employers and employees (in some cases) at an impasse.
For context, a new study from Korn Ferry found that 27% of American workers are fully remote. However, 50% of leaders want employees back full-time, whereas only 12% of employees want to work in the office full-time.
There is also concern among employers that mandating a return to work could trigger mass resignations, leading to worries over employee retention in an already unstable economic environment.
What HR Leaders Should Consider
Whether or not your company is weighing the pros and cons of a full or partial return-to-work, HR leaders of every industry should consider the impact on their specific employee populations.
Could a hybrid work environment better serve the working parents, caregivers or long-distance commuters in your workforce?
If a return to office is imminent due to cost constraints and company culture concerns, are there other ways to demonstrate a commitment to the caregivers in your workforce? What benefits might make RTO more palatable?
On average, employers experience an average of 3x ROI when implementing Cariloop. It’s an easy win for your overall benefits ecosystem and a boon to your company culture.
As the old saying goes, “Take care of your employees, and they’ll take care of your business.”
Learn more about how you can implement caregiver support benefits to supplement your return-to-work mandate today.
