A recent survey shows that approximately 47% of UK professionals would leave their jobs if their employers required them to work from the office five days a week. The survey conducted by Hays recruitment firm revealed that 48% of employees would leave their jobs when forced to work from the office full-time while women (58%) showed a higher likelihood than men (42%) to do so.
The majority of professionals (77%) split their workweek between office and remote environments through hybrid models and three days in the office represent the standard practice. Amazon together with PwC and Santander represent some of the companies which have demanded employees to spend more time in the office. The surveyed employers show no intention to enforce complete office attendance since only 8% expressed this plan.
The expense of commuting stands as a primary issue because 73% of professionals consider it when deciding about returning to work. The expenses of commuting affect women more than men since 59% of women experience financial strain from these costs compared to 41% of men. Two-thirds of employers express concern that more restrictive office policies will generate negative reactions from their staff.
The survey reveals that 52% of employers see no difference in productivity between remote and office workers but 19% believe home workers are more productive. Experts advise companies to weigh work-life balance, employee wellbeing and cost factors before enforcing strict office policies because talent retention is at stake.
