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Return to office mandates work, but employees aren’t sold

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Emily Ferrick

Employees agree with return to office mandates, but still look for other jobs because of it.

January 22, 2025. What do office workers really think about being back in the office? A new survey explores how employees feel about return to office mandates, asking how often they go in, what motivates them to show up, and what keeps them away. Respondents came from a range of industries—like technology, finance, healthcare, and real estate—offering a broad view of the RTO push.

80% of respondents say their company's return to office mandate is fair.

The results reveal mixed feelings. While 40% of workers are required to be in office five days a week, nearly a third have thought about leaving their job because of their company’s return to office mandate. (And not necessarily because they want to be in the office less.) Many employees said they’d prefer employers who offer more on-site amenities to make returning to the office more appealing.

Key drivers for working in the office include productivity, in-person meetings, and employer mandates. On the other hand, long commutes and challenges like child care are common barriers to taking a return to office mandate seriously.

These findings—that we are going back to the office more than ever today than we have in the past four years, but hybrid remains the dominant way companies operate—align with what we’re seeing in other data. In the latest report Bevi released this month on office attendance, as tracked by usage of our Smart Water Cooler machines, we saw the national average office attendance reach 64% of pre-pandemic levels. This is more than any year since 2020, but remains 36% below where we were in 2019.

Understanding employee sentiment around return to office mandates can help businesses refine their policies and workplace goals. Here are the five big trends we saw in this survey of office workers:

1. Most employees agree with their company’s return to office mandate, but still consider changing jobs because of it

Look, we get it. 80% of respondents indicated that they thought their company’s RTO policy was fair, signaling that most of us have at least somewhat accepted that the days of working completely remotely in our sweats are behind us as we near the 5-year anniversary of the pandemic. 

Despite this acceptance, a third of respondents also claimed that they have considered looking for a new job because of it. And the “because of it” cuts both ways: for an arrangement more remote as well as an arrangement more in-office.

In defense of the office

The possibility of fully remote work keeps employees questioning their current setup: Where am I most productive? At home, free from office distractions? Or in the office, building connections? Should I prioritize face time at work or quality time with family? These considerations drive turnover as employees weigh what matters most to them—and their answer changes over time.

In the defense of the home

On the other hand, some employees prefer a stronger in-office presence. While less discussed, a contingent, ranging from Gen Z workers starting their careers to senior leaders, sees value in a pre-pandemic-style office culture. They believe consistent in-person interaction is essential for career growth and collaboration. If RTO policies don’t align with their preferences, they, too, may seek opportunities elsewhere.

One third of respondents say they have considered looking for a new job due to their company's return to office mandates.

Ultimately, employees’ needs are varied, changing with different stages of their life or specific, personal scenarios. A new graduate eager to learn and network may crave the energy and visibility of an office. A mid-career professional aiming for the next big promotion might thrive on collaboration and mentorship that’s easier in person. An entrepreneur pushing to grow a business may find the shared focus and camaraderie of an office invaluable.

At the same time, someone balancing family commitments or caregiving responsibilities may prioritize the flexibility of remote work to better manage their time. A worker moving to a scenic, remote location for a better quality of life may need to stay home to enjoy it while staying productive. Others might simply find their best focus and flow in the quiet of their home office, free from the buzz of meetings and interruptions.

What’s an organization to do?

The challenge for companies is clear: employees’ needs are not static. So set an RTO mandate that you believe in. Set an in-office policy that reflects what most employees, given your industry, product, and location, want to get out of their work. (Or give them flexibility to decide for themselves, if you think that’s the best route.) Know that a third of your employees may always be looking for a slightly different arrangement since flexibility inevitably brings variability. 

80% of respondents said that Wednesday is their preferred day to work on-site.

2. Return to office mandates must allow for flexibility

If hybrid employees are required to spend a certain amount of time in the office, they value having options. Of the 49% of respondents whose companies uphold a hybrid policy, 80% said they prefer to go to the office on Wednesday, with Tuesday a close runner-up. Data from Bevi’s recently released office attendance reportt supports this trend, with Tuesday and Wednesday ranking as the first and second most popular days in office, respectively.

58% of respondents said that amenities would motivate them to work on-site more often.

3. Amenities, please

In addition to a flexible schedule, food and beverage amenities such as coffee, tea, filtered water stations, meals, and snack bars would motivate them to work on-site more often. 50% of respondents also claimed that they would want to work for a company that provided amenities. On-site gyms were another amenity that many employees signaled would get them to take a return to office mandate seriously and show up at their company desk more often.



4. Bumper to bumper, face to face

One of the biggest deterrents to working on-site? The commute. Half of respondents said that their commute is the worst part of needing to come into the office. At the same time, the highest-ranking reason to make the trek was higher productivity—so the commute may be worth it, although that may be begrudging to admit. Whether it’s in-person meetings or access to more frequent collaboration, most of us know there are advantages to working on-site that can’t be replicated at home.

50% of respondents cite their commute as the biggest deterrent to working on-site.

5. Planet over profit gets more popular for all employees, especially those with advanced degrees

Return to office mandates take up a lot of the headlines. But there are many other, equally important company policies and factors employees consider when deciding to stay or leave. A big one remains how your company thinks about sustainability. 41% of respondents said they wouldn’t work for a company that did not uphold climate-friendly initiatives. That percentage increased with more years of education, from 31% for those with a high school degree to 46% for those with a master’s.


FAQs

Why did Bevi decide to conduct this survey on return to office mandates?

Bevi has been analyzing customer usage data since before the pandemic to gauge RTO trends. The company wanted to hear directly from employees about why they were returning to the office, how often they were required to be there, and what factors encourage them to spend more time in-office as well as what deters them.

How were survey respondents chosen?

Bevi used a third party to poll a random sampling of full-time office workers across the United States.

How many employees were surveyed?

Bevi polled 400 full-time non-remote office workers who work across the United States from many different industries.  


Looking for more office attendance insights?

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Emily Ferrick

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