50+ Return to Work Statistics & Trends To Redefine Workplace [2025]

March 26, 2024 0 Comments

Has Covid changed your way of working?

And now you do not want to go back to the office, right?!

You are not alone!

Only 3% of employees want to return to the five-day office work week.

68% of Americans prefer working from home.

97% of US employees are open to remote or hybrid work.

It is concerning to note that 28% of companies revealed they will have to threaten to fire employees to bring them back.

Wondering about the new normal? Let’s go through the return to work statistics to build a data-driven approach towards future workstyles.

Top Return To Work Statistics: Editor’s Pick

Only 3% of employees want to return to office work week
  1. 86% of workers want to work remotely at least two days a week. [2]
  2. Only 4% of companies have made everyone return to the office full-time. [2]
  3. 72% of the companies have noticed increased revenue when a return-to-office policy has been set. [8]
  4. 58% of women want to work in a hybrid or remote setting at least three days a week compared to 48% of men. [1]
  5. 60% of employees wish to permanently WFH to avoid social awkwardness. [12]
  6. 17% of remote workers have relocated and can no longer reach the office quickly. [12]
  7. 90% of companies have allowed hybrid work schedules post-pandemic. [5]

General Return To Work Statistics

Still haven’t returned to your Pre-Covid working schedule?

You are not the only one! 

Only 49% of employees have returned to the office full-time. [1]

68% of Americans prefer working from home. [1]

97% of US employees are open to remote or hybrid work. [1]

Only 3% of employees want to return to the five-day office work week. [2]

86% of workers want to work remotely at least two days a week. [2]

Only 4% of companies have made everyone return to the office full-time. [2]

72% of the companies have noticed increased revenue when a return-to-office policy has been set. [8]

It is concerning to note that 28% of companies revealed they will have to threaten to fire employees to bring them back. [7]

64% of the employees have already searched or would consider searching for a new job if their boss wanted them back in the office full-time. [9]

Return To Work Statistics By Demographics

  1. Half as many women (9%) as men (18%) will return to the office five days a week. [1]
  2. 58% of women want to work in a hybrid or remote setting at least three days a week compared to 48% of men. [1]
  3. About 71% of Gen Z would consider looking for a new job if their employer forced them to return to the office full-time. [10]
  4. Only 61% of employees falling in the age group 35-to-44 years would search for another job if their employer insists on returning to the office. [10]
  5. The percentage is lowest for baby boomers, aged between 45-to-54, at 56%. [10]
Time spend on-site

Source: Zippia

What is an Employee’s Opinion On The Work Revolution?

How do employees feel about returning to the office?

  • 55% of workers want to work from the office fewer than three days per week. [11]
  • 44% of executives want to come back to the office every day, but only 17% of regular employees would follow suit. [11]
  • Most Arts and Entertainment workers prefer (54%) being full-time in-office. [10]
  • Tech or computer science employees are the most excited about a hybrid role (50%). [10]
  • 40% of staffers are comfortable returning to the office now, whereas 18% don’t want to go back no matter what. [12]
  • 52% of fully remote workers are very satisfied with their jobs, compared to 40% of employees working mainly from the office. [12]
  • 60% of employees wish to permanently WFH to avoid social awkwardness. [12]
  • 17% of remote workers have relocated and can no longer reach the office quickly. [12]

Employees feel that they will lose the following perks of remote work if they go back to the office even a few days a month.

Remote Work Perks Workers Fear LosingPercentage of Workers
More frequent coffee or snack breaks54%
Extra time with family51%
Casual dress code50%
More comfortable seating50%
Source: Flexjobs

What is the Employer’s Opinion On the Work Revolution?

  • 68% of executives believe that regular employees should attend the office at least three days a week to maintain company culture. [14]
  • 28% of businesses have already decided who should work from where. [13]
  • 60% of managers agree or strongly agree that a full-time return to the office will occur shortly. [13]
  • 65% of leaders believe that the office is “very important” to improve employee productivity. [14]
  • 51% of managers believe their organizations would consider pay cuts for those who refuse to return to the office. [13]
  • 69% of managers have difficulty managing remote employees and are now experiencing burnout with remote management. [13]

Why Do Employees Not Want To Go Back To Work? 

Here we have reviewed the major reasons why employees do not want to return to the traditional workstyle.

  1. 43% of employees are worried about losing flexibility, comfort, and work-life balance. [3]
  2. 37% of working professionals agreed that they feel more anxious, worried, and stressed when they go into the office.
  3. 34% are not ready to face any office politics. [3]
  4. 27% of workers are worried about the change in their daily routine. [3]
  5. 26% of employees do not want to stay away from their families and pets. [3]
  6. 15% of workers are worried about taking care of their children. [3]

What is the solution? Hybrid Working Model

Employers want their workers back at their desks, but employees do not want to return. 

What is a solution?

Hybrid working model. It balances the pros and cons of both work models.

In this model, 50% of the time is to be spent at the office, about 2 to 3 days. [5]

90% of companies have allowed hybrid work schedules post-pandemic. [5]

When and why to come into the office has been the biggest challenge for 38% of hybrid employees. [5]

72% of staffers prefer a hybrid remote-office model. [5]

77% of Fortune 100 companies like Walmart, Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Microsoft, Ford Motors, and Dell Technologies operate under a hybrid working model. [4]

What percentage of Americans work on-site, hybrid, and remote?

Source: JLL

  • 50% of Americans are involved in hybrid work. [8]
  • While only 20% are fully on-site workers
  • 30% of US workers work fully remotely.

Future of Work

90% of companies with office space are planning to return on-site by the end of 2024. [6]

50% of employers have already enforced RTO mandates and the percentage will rise to 90% by the end of this year. [6]

As employees do not want to return to the office, companies are planning to add extra benefits to bring them back, like

  • 72% of companies revealed they will offer commuter benefits. [7]
  • 57% of companies committed to offering childcare benefits shortly. [7]
  • 64% of companies said that they would provide catered meals to employees. [7]

FAQs 

What are return-to-work statistics?

According to the latest data, 49% of remote employees have returned to the office full-time as of 2022. 97% of workers desire some form of either remote or hybrid work.

Do employees prefer hybrid work?

Yes., employees prefer hybrid work, especially post-pandemic. 61% of employees prefer a hybrid working model. 50% of the time is to be spent at the office, about 2 to 3 days.

90% of companies have allowed hybrid work schedules post-pandemic.

How many Americans are involved in remote work?

As of now, 50% of Americans are involved in hybrid work. While only 20% are fully on-site workers. 30% of US workers work fully remotely.

The Final Thought 

Covid has transformed the workstyles and now after employees have found their comfort in remote work, they do not want to get back into full-time office jobs. 

Only 49% of employees have returned to the office full-time. 68% of Americans prefer working from home. 97% of US employees are open to remote or hybrid work. 50% of employers have already enforced RTO mandates and the percentage will rise to 90% by the end of this year.

As employees do not want to return to the office, companies are planning to add extra benefits to bring them back. 72% of companies revealed they will offer commuter benefits. 77% of Fortune 100 companies like Walmart, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Dell Technologies operate under a hybrid working model. 

Sources

  1. Qz. Only half of the workers asked back to the office full-time are going
  2. Gallup. Remote Work Persisting and Trending Permanent
  3. Deskbird. Return to office statistics
  4. Build Remote. Fortune 100 Return To Office Policy Tracker
  5. Charter works. The sweet spot for hybrid work
  6. Resume builder. 90% of Companies Will Return to Office By the End of 2024
  7. Business. Att. Is corporate America ready for The Future of Work?
  8. Jll. co. Is hybrid really working?
  9. CNBC. 64% of workers would consider quitting if asked to return to the office full-time
  10. Gallup. Returning to the Office: The Current, Preferred and Future State of Remote Work
  11. PWC. It’s time to reimagine where and how work will get done
  12. Flexjobs. Remote Work Stats & Trends: Navigating Work From Home Jobs
  13. CNBC. 50% of companies want workers back in office 5 days a week–why experts say this strategy could fail
  14. Quartz. Covid crushed company culture—but something better will take its place