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Even the thought of not being able to work from home has staff terrified.
That’s according to a survey from recruitment company Hays, reported by The Guardian, which surveyed 3,600 British workers about hybrid working and the threat of return-to-office (RTO) mandates.
That poll found that more than a third of respondents (38%) said that news coverage of RTOs alone hurt their well-being – not the threat of their own company forcing a return to office, but merely the stories of others doing so. Women were more likely to be concerned about RTOs than men, at 42% versus 32%.
I’m here to share the news that things aren’t as bad as they may seem. That the reality is nicer than the headlines. And hopefully to decrease your RTO stress.
Why do RTO stories cause concern? Six in ten said they were worried about the cost, particularly around commuting.
And several American companies have gone full RTO. JPMorgan and Man Group both announced five-day RTOs, while some teams at Asos and Boots have had to do the same.
That said, British workers shouldn’t feel so stressed: hybrid working remains the default option for most desk-based companies.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the companies refusing to go back to old-fashioned styles of working won as many headlines, but it’s less dramatic. “Company treats employees like adults” is, after all, not a headline that will win clicks.
According to ONS stats, 28% of adults with jobs in the UK were working in a hybrid pattern – a figure that has stayed relatively stable since 2022.
It’s also worth noting that many high-profile companies that do make headlines with RTOs aren’t actually mandating a full working week in the office, but simply firming up rules.
Barclays, Santander and Lloyds all made headlines for tightening their working patterns – but, with some exceptions for specific roles, they still allow flexible working. Rather that implement full RTO, they have simply laid out ground rules or bumped up requirements from two days to three.
A month ago, HSBC tightened up its hybrid working policy, sparking headlines like this: “HSBC high street bank staff face bonus cuts over remote working.” That suggests staff will lose bonuses if they work from home. But that’s not the case: they’re being asked to work three days in the office and two from home, an increase of one day a week. That might not be what you want to do, but it’s also not going to cause a massive hit to your well-being, and it’s not a full RTO.
Indeed, even the aforementioned Man Group’s five-day RTO is only temporary to help get through a rough patch, and only covers 150 staff out of 1,700 globally – yet it saw the headline “Hedge fund orders London-based analysts back to office five days a week”.
So if you see a headline about an RTO, don’t worry, as it’s probably one extra day a week for a handful of staff. Unless you work at a US bank. Then get ready to start commuting.
The Hays survey found that 84% of employees who already work hybrid believed it boosted their wellbeing – mental, physical, social and financial, The Guardian reported.
And that makes sense: ONS stats show that those working from home saved 56 minutes a day on average by not commuting, with at least some of that spent on “rest, exercise, sports and well-being”.
Given that, and the Hays figures about the financial worries caused by commuting costs, surely any company wanting to encourage staff back into the office shouldn’t issue an RTO mandate nor should they offer free lunches, yoga classes or other in-office perks. Instead, they should find a way to make commutes easier and cheaper.
Forget company-wide RTOs, perhaps it’s time for a company bus instead.
