A recent survey by FTI Consulting found that 70% of U.S. workers who are currently remote or working in a hybrid arrangement would be likely to look for a new job if their employer required them to return to the office full-time. This comes as many companies are considering or have already implemented return-to-office (RTO) mandates.
The survey, which was conducted by Southpaw Insights on behalf of FTI Consulting, polled 1,000 individuals who either work in a corporate office or from home. These respondents were asked about their likelihood of seeking alternative employment if they were required to return to the office for at least 30 hours per week, without a change in their current salary.
In addition to the 70% of remote and hybrid workers who said they would consider quitting, the survey also found that a significant portion of these individuals have a strong preference for their current work arrangement. Of those who are currently fully remote, 74% said they would likely leave their job if they were required to return to the office full-time. Similarly, 62% of hybrid workers said they would consider quitting if faced with an RTO mandate.
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The survey also highlighted the importance of flexibility for remote and hybrid workers. Nearly half (45%) of fully remote workers said that the ability to work from home or in a hybrid arrangement is one of the most important aspects of their job. This sentiment was shared by 41% of hybrid workers.
“We have all seen the headlines about the return-to-office mandates by some of the nation’s largest employers, with some companies reporting that they expect all of their workers, with few exceptions, to return to the office full time in 2025,” said Josh Herrenkohl, a Senior Managing Director in the Real Estate Solutions practice at FTI Consulting. “But our research shows that their ability to implement this mandate is not cut-and-dry, and employers risk losing talent if RTO mandates are enforced. How employees feel about RTO involves many factors, including their industry, the size of their company, whether they have children and the nature of their current work arrangement.”
The survey also found that there is a strong correlation between an employee’s current work model and their attitude towards remote work. For example, 74% of fully remote workers said they are likely to seek employment at another company if they were required to return to the office full-time. In contrast, only 15% of current in-office workers said they prioritize the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid setting.
The survey also found that there is a significant generational divide when it comes to attitudes towards RTO mandates. While younger generations were more likely to be excited or accepting of a return to the office, older generations were more resistant to the idea. For example, 42% of Gen Z respondents said they would be excited about an RTO mandate, compared to just 33% of Gen X respondents.
FTI Consulting’s survey also explored the impact of company size on employee attitudes towards RTO mandates. The results showed that employees at mid-sized companies are the most likely to seek alternative employment if required to return to the office full-time. In contrast, employees at larger companies are the least likely to quit over an RTO mandate.
The survey’s findings suggest that employers may need to reconsider their RTO strategies in order to retain talent. This is especially true for companies that are looking to attract and retain younger employees, who tend to place a higher value on flexibility and remote work opportunities.
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