During the COVID-19 pandemic, shutdowns forced businesses to replace in-person work with telecommuting. However, once the nation began to return to normalcy, multiple companies forced workers to return to in-person jobs. Many bosses compromised and allowed employees to work hybrid schedules.
The beginning of 2023 saw two events happen. First, President Joe Biden ended the COVID national emergency, and many businesses changed remote-work policies. According to Time Magazine, Disney, Activision, and Starbucks would require workers to be in the office more frequently. As a result, some employees quit those jobs.
In April, Adam, an Activision manager, complained that in-office requirements were costing the company “amazing talent.” Others mentioned similar anecdotal evidence that hybrid jobs encouraged valuable employees to stay.
Being loud about it because I've lost yet *another* person this week.
Blizzard is losing amazing talent because someone in power doesn't listen to the game directors who make his products. DE&I also means diversity of thought, especially when it's backed by data and financials.
— Adam 💙 #ABetterABK (@Glaxigrav) April 18, 2023
Time Magazine cited Scoop’s July 18 Flex Index report, which indicated there is now evidence that the lack of flexibility can hurt in the long term. Companies with flexible work policies are growing faster than those requiring people to be in the office full-time. “Specifically, in the last year, companies — regardless of their size — that are fully flexible added more jobs at more than twice the rate of full-time in-office companies.”
Scoop CEO Rob Sadow believes the report clearly shows there are fewer applicants for full-time in-office jobs compared to more flexible ones.
Why Workers Want Remote or Hybrid Jobs
Remote jobs ballooned during the pandemic. Despite the national health crisis ending, the number of full-time remote workers is five times greater than in 2019. Clearly, employees do not want to return to the office full-time.
There are several motivations behind choosing at-home or hybrid jobs. The top reason given is improved work-life balance. Additionally, companies have benefitted from allowing flexibility.
For example, managers cite increased productivity and improved employee morale among the reasons listed.
Other reasons employees choose remote jobs include reduced workplace distractions, eliminating the daily commute, reduced environmental impacts, flexible scheduling, and saving money for childcare and gasoline, etc.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
TIME Magazine: Companies Requiring Full-Time In-Office Are Struggling to Recruit New Employees; By Alana Semuels
WebProNews: Blizzard’s In-Office Mandate Costing the Company ‘Some Amazing People;’ By Matt Milano
CNBC: Full-time office work is ‘dead’: 3 labor experts weigh in on the future of remote work; By Greg Lacurci
Indeed: Interview Question: “Why Do You Want to Work From Home?”
Featured and Top Image by Tim Mossholder Courtesy of Unsplash
Inset Image by Ali Hajian Courtesy of Unsplash
