Return-to-office worries revealed

Businesses are increasingly enforcing mandates in a bid to get people back to the office. However, new research has highlighted some potentially dangerous consequences.

Earlier this year, Robert Half research revealed 60 per cent of employers were having their staff work more days in the office this year as opposed to last.

NSW employers were more likely to implement a return-to-office policy, with 63 per cent noting it a priority for the year, followed by Queensland and Victorian employers (both 60 per cent) and West Australian employers (55 per cent).

Despite the push from the employer side, though, staff in certain organisations have made their preference for continuing remote working known.

Recently, Commonwealth Bank received big backlash from it mandating staff to work two days in the office per week, with many of the 49,000 employees affected reportedly unhappy with the decision.

Adaptavist’s Digital Etiquette: Reinventing Work report has provided insight into the anxieties people have about return-to-office mandates, providing much food for thought for HR and business leaders alike.

According to the report, 37 per cent of people surveyed had experienced anxiety about returning to the office after a period of absence.

The causes of this anxiety were multifaceted, with 36 per cent citing the commute as a major stressor. Sensory overload, distractions, and shared office spaces also contributed, with 32 per cent, 31 per cent, and 29 per cent of respondents, respectively, identifying these issues.

Additionally, 29 per cent expressed anxiety about the absence of personal time for reflection, while 23 per cent were concerned about interactions with colleagues they had strained relationships with.

Respondents were also asked: “If your company goes back to the office full-time, which workplace problems are you most worried about having to deal with again?”

Forty-three per cent said additional costs (commuting, food, beverages, etc.), 38 per cent said noise and distractions, 38 per cent also said office politics, 30 per cent said micromanagement, and 23 per cent said favouritism.

When asked whether there were any perks their company could offer to make going back to the office full-time more appealing, 41 per cent said flexible working hours, 31 per cent said more vacation time, 28 per cent said free food and beverages, and 27 per cent said commute reimbursement/free parking.

Health-related perks were important to 23 per cent of participants, and 19 per cent expressed interest in social events fostering workplace camaraderie.

The research underscores the delicate balance businesses must strike between operational needs and the evolving preferences of their workforce. It highlights the necessity for adaptable work policies that cater to both the company’s goals and the wellbeing of employees, ensuring a harmonious and productive transition back to the office environment.