Even though the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, many employees continue to work from home on a full time or hybrid basis. However, many employers are urging employees to return to the office either full time or at least 2 to 3 days per week. Employees who are primarily working from home have some top objections to returning to the office, even on a hybrid basis.

More Productive Working from Home

Employees contend that they can complete their jobs/tasks better from home versus when they are at the office. Data doesn’t necessarily support this, although measuring productivity for each job is different. Employees say they don’t have distractions and are able to focus on their job to complete their work very efficiently.  This is especially true of younger generations that embrace and leverage technology as much as possible.

Commuting Stinks

It’s easy to understand this objection, as commuting is generally considered a negative experience due to costs, time commitment, and stress. On the financial front, employees are saving big money by not paying for daily gas usage and parking and maybe even have lower insurance premiums. There is also less cost for transit users, although many riders also outline the experience as stressful, with some even pointing out safety concerns. 

Workspace is Small / Not Private

Over the past 20 years, the dedicated workspace area per employee has gotten smaller. Workstations are smaller and typically have lower wall heights that offer less privacy. Some companies don’t have dedicated workspaces for their staff at all. Instead, employees check in when they arrive at the office and have to find an open spot. Some employees feel that their shrinking space and lack of privacy is a big negative for work productivity and doesn’t make them feel good about going into the office.

Childcare Costs

Parents may find that working from home allows them flexibility and can be less expensive. Those that work in the office and have school-age children may need to pay for afterschool care that they may not need when they work from home. Parents with preschool-age children might be able to limit or skip daycare altogether, depending on their job responsibilities, of course, and that can result in huge cost savings.  

Quality of Life / Balance

Overall, employees who work from home may experience less stress and feel it’s easier to keep pace with a busy life. The objections outlined above are large contributing factors, but let’s not forget about the conveniences of having a quick lunch at home or throwing a load of laundry in between phone calls versus at night or on the weekend. For parents, it could also be easier to bring children to medical appointments and attend after-school activities. Many feel positive about the fact that they are having less environmental impact by not commuting to work. 

These employee objections are not simple for employers to resolve. Currently, the job market still favors employees, but it has cooled off over the past 6 to 12 months. As employment markets get closer to equilibrium, employers will likely push returning to the office more forcefully. However, even in an employer’s market, hybrid working at some level will likely remain. 

It’s a difficult path for employers, and many are trying to make the “in-office” experience better by relocating to nicer buildings with more amenities and services for employees. This strategy will tempt some employees to return to work, and it’s a good first step in creating a positive and productive experience for them as they return to the office. They will also need to take into account their employee’s thoughts on office location and layout. Providing private workspaces for employees should be something employers consider as that is one objection that can be addressed in office design.

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Article submitted by Wayne Teig / ITRA Global Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota USA