Thousands of employees at SAP, Europe's largest software company, recently signed a letter stating they feel "betrayed" by its "radical change in direction" concerning remote work following a back-to-office directive.
Many employees have threatened to leave rather than return to in-person work at least three days per week, as required beginning in April.
SAP's CEO praised remote work in 2021 but has since expressed frustration with the effects of remote work on the organization's culture.
Employers, including Google, AT&T, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America, have transitioned from being flexible to being firm concerning in-person work.
Rather than enticing workers back with free lunches, many employers are now taking a punitive approach. For example, Bank of America sent "letters of education" to employees who have not adhered to attendance expectations, threatening them with disciplinary action. Google employees who did not return to the office received poorer performance reviews.
Some employees say the office mandates are "unreasonable" and think their organization is using them to reduce staff. For example, AT&T began requiring 60,000 managers to work in-office on a hybrid schedule but did not have enough office space for them to comply. Some employees were hired as permanently remote during the pandemic, and most were not offered any relocation assistance.
A recent study found that back-to-office mandates do not lead to greater profit for employers. Data also does not show a significant decline in performance or engagement among remote workers. If employers are not strategic in their back-to-office mandates, they may lose their top talent, particularly Millennial and female employees.
However, younger workers may be more eager to comply with in-office mandates. Pew Research Center data from 2023 found that younger workers, many of whom are struggling to build networks and get mentorship while working remotely, have higher levels of burnout and disengagement.
The national average office occupancy rate reached 51.8 percent in early 2024, which is the highest rate since the pandemic. Taylor Telford and Danielle Abril "Companies' hard-line stance on returning to the office is backfiring" www.washingtonpost.com (Feb. 02, 2024).
So, the question for our readers is: Is Force Needed To Get Employees Back To The Office?
Please take the poll. Here is the opinion of one of the McCalmon editorial staff:
Jack McCalmon, Esq.
Every employer is different. Employers need to review their organization's mission and determine whether a back-to-office mandate is needed to meet that mission.
You can answer our poll. Please note any comments provided may be shared with others.
