ResumeBuilder.com, a premier resource for professional resume templates and career advice, has published a recent survey report exploring companies’ existing return-to-office (RTO) policies and their projections for 2025. The report highlights the rationale behind increasing mandatory in-office days, based on responses from 756 business leaders from companies with an RTO mandate since 2021.
Current RTO Policies
- Frequency of In-Office Days:
- 23% require employees to work in person five days per week.
- 26% require four days per week.
- 38% require three days per week.
- Talent Loss:
- 83% of business leaders report talent loss due to RTO policies.
- Reasons for talent loss include relocation issues, familial responsibilities, and a preference for remote work.
Rationale for Talent Loss
- Expert Insight:
- Julia Toothacre, Resume and Career Strategist at ResumeBuilder, explains that people may not want to relocate again, need a flexible schedule due to family, or simply prefer working remotely.
Future RTO Plans
- Maintenance and Changes:
- 45% of companies plan to maintain the current RTO policy through 2025.
- 25% plan to increase mandatory in-office days.
- 21% plan to reduce in-office requirements.
- Anticipated Benefits:
- Companies increasing in-office days expect improvements in productivity, company culture, employee well-being, and retention.
Assumptions and Realities
- Expert Opinion:
- Julia Toothacre cautions that business leaders may make assumptions about productivity, culture, and well-being.
- Productivity is linked to clear expectations and good management.
- Company culture is driven by people rather than physical spaces.
- Employee well-being is influenced by management, stress levels, and flexibility.
Survey Methodology
- Survey Details:
- Conducted online via Pollfish on May 15, 2024.
- Included 756 business leaders (owners, partners, presidents, CEOs, C-level executives, directors, senior managers, HR managers, project managers, or supervisors).
- Participants were over 25 years old, earned over $75,000 annually, worked for companies with more than 11 employees, and had an education level above high school.
The survey by ResumeBuilder.com reveals a significant shift towards increasing in-office days by 2025, driven by the belief that it will enhance productivity, workplace culture, employee well-being, and retention. Despite the talent loss experienced due to current RTO policies, many companies are committed to this approach, emphasizing the need for clear expectations and good management to achieve the desired outcomes.
