It feels like the debate over remote work has dragged on almost as long as Law & Order has been on the air. For some workers across the pond, the debate is over, and they’re likely not going back to the office full-time.
Where in the world? UK employees work from home more than workers in nearly every other country, the Guardian recently reported, and they’re less likely to comply with new RTO mandates.
In 2024, just 42% of UK workers said they would comply with in-office mandates, down from 54% in 2022, according to a new study from the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London and King’s Business School. The report, which examined remote and hybrid work trends from early 2022 to the end of 2024 and surveyed 50,000 people, also found that half of UK workers would look for another job if their employer instituted an in-office mandate. An additional 10% said they would quit immediately.
Women, who are most likely to handle caregiving responsibilities, were more likely to oppose in-office requirements. Some 64% said they would leave their job over an in-person mandate, compared to 51% of men. While many employers in the UK including HSBC UK, Amazon, and BlackRock have instituted a five day a week mandatory RTO, a quarter of women still work remotely the majority of the week.
Mothers were least likely to comply with RTO mandates, while Black and minority ethnic workers are most likely to comply with in-office mandates, which the study says is a signal of ongoing workplace inequities. Those who need work flexibility the most are more likely to face hurdles to career progression or risk being forced out of their jobs.
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“There has been a marked shift in attitudes, with workers now seeing flexibility as the norm,” said Heejung Chung, professor of work and employment at King’s College London and lead author of the report. “Rather than forcing a return to pre-pandemic working patterns, organizations should be looking to formalize hybrid models, invest in remote collaboration tools, and set up coordinated in-office days to maximize engagement.”
Satellite view. Workers in the US are also hesitant to return to the office, and half would search for a new job if ordered into the office full-time, according to SHRM. While several employers, including JPMorgan Chase, Electronic Arts, and advertising giant WPP, announced new RTO mandates in recent months, roughly 24% of US workers are remote at least some of the time. Disabled workers and parents with children under 18 are the most likely to work remotely.
Still, several companies, including Visa, Spotify, and Nvidia, have doubled down on their commitment to flexible work models. “We are a business that’s been digital from birth, so why shouldn’t we give our people flexibility and freedom?” Katarina Berg, CHRO at Spotify told Rocanteur. “Work is not a place you come to, it’s something you do.”