New research shows that UK workers continue to resist mandates to return to the office.
The survey was commissioned by iGaming Marketing firm ClickOut Media. It surveyed 2,000 UK workers and found that more than 30% would reject a job if they had to spend more than three office days per week.
The findings coincide with a widespread push by employers to get workers back into the office. Companies such as JPMorgan Chase have ended hybrid work arrangements, and require employees to return to office work full-time. Lord Rose of Asda and Marks & Spencer criticised remote working earlier this year, claiming that it was part of Britain’s “general decline”.
Many employees are still reluctant to return full-time to the office. TopCV, a CV writing service, conducted a recent survey and found that 1 in 6 employees would quit if they were forced to work full time.
ClickOut Media surveyed a third of respondents who expressed concern about their employer increasing the number of required office days. Over 30% of respondents preferred to work four or five days per week from home. The main reasons for this were reduced commute time and costs, less workplace interruptions, and more flexibility in managing personal tasks.
Talent retention, remote work and return to office mandates
According to studies, employees who are able to work remotely have higher levels of job satisfaction, mental health and productivity. Some employers are still concerned about remote work, including collaboration, company culture, and performance management.
Many employees are unwilling to give up a hybrid or remote working model. Companies that insist on a return to the office (RTO), however, may lose their best talent. ClickOut Media operates a completely remote working model and says that this has been beneficial in attracting and retaining talent.
Neil Roarty is the gambling head analyst at ClickOut Media. He said that remote, flexible work has become a necessity, not a perk.
He said that businesses who cling on to outdated and rigid office policies not only risk losing talent, but also misunderstand the modern workforce. “At ClickOut Media we have always believed that our team should be able to work anywhere. These findings reinforce this commitment.”
Businesses must balance the advantages of flexibility with operational requirements as the debate continues over in-office and remote work. Some organisations believe office attendance is key to collaboration and productivity, but many employees expect hybrid or completely remote options to be standard. They also think that companies who do not adapt will struggle to retain and attract top talent.
