Survey: Most Americans would consider leaving their jobs if forced to return to the office

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the lives of Americans drastically for two years – but as things begin to return to the pre-pandemic ways, there’s one thing that Americans aren’t willing to give up: remote work.

A new report from the American office security firm Kastle has shown that offices in the U.S.’ ten largest cities are only 40% occupied – already up 15% from the same period last year, CNBC reported.

But as companies begin requiring employees to return to the office – Apple, Twitter and Google required most employees to return to work on a hybrid schedule thing month – there is evidence to suggest that many employees are prepared to leave their jobs if they are required to return to an in-person arrangement.

According to a new survey from the ADP Research Institute titled “People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View,” 64% of workers said that they have, or would consider, looking for a new job if their employer required them to return to the office

“Even a few years ago, the thought of working in a hybrid arrangement was – excuse the pun – remote to most people,” ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson told CNBC Make It.

“Now, it’s clear that hybrid work and the desire for flexibility after two years of working from home is not going away – in fact, it’s growing in momentum.” 

But when workers ask for flexibility, they’re really asking for agency in deciding when and how they work.

“It’s not just that people want to work from their houses – they might have spotty WiFi, and not everyone wants to stare at dirty dishes while they’re trying to focus,” Richardson said.

“But people have gotten used to having more autonomy over their work the past two years, whether it’s being able to pick their kids up from daycare or going to doctor’s appointments without having to ask for time off.”

Some demographics are more likely to have embraced the work-from-home lifestyle than others, however. According to the report, 71% of 18-to 24-year-olds said that they would consider looking for another job if their company insisted on them returning to the office full-time, compared to 61% of 35- to 44-year-olds and 56% of 45- to 54-year-olds.

If employers want young people back in the office, Richardson argues, they must “move beyond catered lunches and ping pong tables” and instead focus on creating an engaging office environment where employees can get valuable mentorship from higher-ups and participate in team bonding activities with their co-workers. 

“There’s a new need for companies to evolve because of this tight labor market,” she says. “Employees need to feel like they’re personally benefiting from waking up earlier and commuting to the office – that it’s really worth it, or they’ll leave.