The End of Work-From-Home: What's Driving the Return to the Office?

2020 was an unforgettable year for everyone as the world faced the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This event resulted in strict health regulations that forced people to work from their homes. Despite those restrictions, It became an optimum situation for many workers, who felt safer working from home, and employers, who could continue operations without employees being in the office. It has worked for the past few years, but today, it looks like companies are now requiring employees to start working in the office as restrictions have officially been lifted.

Data reveals that a staggering 90% of companies plan to make employees fully return to office by the end of this year, with 30% going as far as firing employees if they refuse to come back. A lot of factors unquestionably come into play as to why companies want this to happen, which include:

Productivity Concerns – One of the most frequent reasons that companies give is their concern for employee productivity. Some employers cite difficulties in maintaining employee productivity, and managers face challenges overseeing their teams.

Collaboration – Despite the popularity of remote tools like Teams and Zoom to keep employees connected, many employers say that creativity and collaboration work best in a face-to-face setting.

Company Culture – The idea of having a great office culture becomes more challenging if employees work in different locations. Team building activities that are done in a virtual setting like Zoom or Teams don't have much of an impact compared to an in-person activity, especially when it requires frequent collaboration with colleagues.

Challengers When Working in a Hybrid Setting – Companies that have hybrid working setups often struggle with being fair to employees working in the office and those working remotely, as employees who are in the office tend to get more recognised than the ones who aren't.

Economic Considerations – Office space rent and other operational expenses frequently add up, and it doesn't make sense to spend on these if employees are not in the office.

But is work-from-home still an option for workers even after the pandemic? Currently, 56% of companies globally allow remote work, and it's also predicted to increase in the next couple of years. No matter what employers may prefer, work-from-home is here to stay, and employees will continue to seek this option before accepting new roles. Companies need to find the right balance between meeting employee well-being as well as achieving their business goals – whether this includes working from home or working on-site.