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2023 is a unique time in the human resources landscape—one marked by the push and pull between employers and employees. In the battle between continuing remote work and forcing a return to the office, it seems that while employers may have all the power upfront to issue in-office mandates, employees are responding by leaving the employer, creating hard-to-fill vacancies.
Time will tell whether this battle is just one of many in the greater “war for talent,” or whether the pandemic has ushered in a permanent cultural change.
Weighing the factors at play requires an employee relations policy that is unique to your business. As you’re sorting through your own pros and cons, Axcet HR Solutions is here to help. Here’s what to know before you make the call.
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According to Economists, “a lot of offices are still empty — and it's becoming a major risk for the economy.”
Companies requiring employees to return to the office are making a buzz in the media, with broad support for the return on display from CEOs like Elon Musk, Andy Jassy and JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon.
To add to the predicament, NPR has reported that vacant office space is a threat to the entire economic totem poll, from the corporations that lease out the office spaces to the banks that fund those corporations, to the local restaurants and retail storefronts that still surround once buzzing office spaces.
While employees migrate to jobs that allow them to work from home, companies have been greatly reducing or even completely doing away with their leased office space. The downside: the shift could contribute to a recession for the U.S. economy if landlords fail to pivot and begin defaulting on their 1.2 trillion in outstanding office loan debt.
A significant number of employees would rather find new jobs than return to the office at their old ones.
While the greater economy is a concern for all employers, it needs to be balanced with the problems of the here and now. Namely, businesses are finding that when they force workers to return to in-person work, they’re frequently met with low engagement and resignation letters.
According to Fortune Magazine, “72% of companies have return-to-office mandates—but nearly half are seeing attrition spike.” This trend is confirmed across the board. The Society of Human Resources Management reports that in a survey of 1,000 workers, 68% of employees (and 79% of Generation Z employees) would “rather look for a new job than return to the office.”
The takeaway is nuanced: while requiring employees to jump back into the office might be what’s best for your company long-term, there are objections to overcome from employees any time an inconvenient change is made. Handling the adjustment with care and consideration surrounding employees’ lifestyles and preferences will go a long way as you redraft your workplace policies.
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Here's how your business can strike a return to the office balance that works for you:
For companies who want to coax workers back into the office, creativity is key. To keep employee engagement high, try the age-old strategy of using carrots instead of sticks to help employees overcome their personal hurdles on the journey back to the office.
According to New York City financial consultancy Clarify Capital’s survey, the following factors are holding workers back from wanting to return to in-person work:
To make a return easier, employers can address the above dilemmas head-on with perks and flexibility. Consider which of the following might be practical for your company to offer:
Keep in mind that you may need to try a few combinations of benefits and perks until you really get it right. Don’t be afraid to elicit feedback from your employees themselves via a survey or a town hall—after all, your team members are likely the best people to clue you in on what will work for them.
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When it comes to making the return-to-office call, your small business or start-up has a lot to consider. Axcet HR Solutions understands the factors at play and can help you craft a comprehensive employee relations strategy that is unique to—and works for—your organization and its employees.
From HR compliance to workplace safety, to recruitment and retention, Axcet is your HR partner. Let us take care of the HR details, so you can focus on growing and scaling your core business. Interested in learning more about how Axcet can help? Schedule a conversation with our experienced experts today.
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