Home workers quit rather than return to the office

Telegraph

6 days ago

A startling number of workers are choosing to hand in their notice rather than return to the office, as companies tighten their grip on remote working arrangements.
One in 10 businesses surveyed by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said that at least some of their employees were quitting rather than shift back to in-person work.
It comes as a growing number of companies order staff back to the office.
Over two fifths of businesses said they have increased requirements for office attendance in the past year and nearly half expect their workforce to be in the office full-time within the next 12 months. This is a notable jump from last year's BCC polling, which found only 27pc of businesses predicted a return to full in-person work over the next five years.
Jane Gratton, at the BCC, said: 'With the cost of doing business continuing to escalate, firms are looking to boost productivity.
'Hybrid working can help firms attract and retain a skilled and engaged workforce. However, some employers are identifying significant benefits of bringing all staff together again on-site.'
Large global banks have long mandated strict policies to get employees back to the office. JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs demand five days a week, while Barclays introduced a three day minimum earlier this year. Meanwhile, HSBC warned staff at its UK retail bank that their bonuses would be at risk if they do not spend at least 60pc of their days in the office.
The BCC's findings suggest at least some staff are resisting these changes. Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development last month estimated that around 80,000 Scots quit their jobs because of in-office mandates. Marek Zemanik, at CIPD, said: 'There's a clear mismatch between what employers are pushing for and what many employers value.'
Manufacturers and consumer-facing firms are leading the back-to-office charge, the BCC found, with 62pc and 61pc of companies in the sectors respectively expecting all working days to be office-based.
Ms Gratton said: 'We're seeing a clear shift towards more firms requiring full on-site working, but it's by no means a uniform picture.
'Hybrid working has become a fixture of modern working life since the pandemic and is valued by employers and their workforce. But it does not suit everyone.
The push to get staff back to the office follows more evidence of the downsides of homeworking in some sectors.
For example, many staff at National Air Traffic Services (Nats) were allowed to work remotely after managers decided it would help the organisation reduce its carbon footprint and cut car journeys to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2035. However, an investigation into an devastating air traffic control meltdown in 2023 was blamed in part on engineer working from home.