HR Representatives See Remote Workers and Employers at Odds Over Returning to the Office
New survey reveals differing perspectives, lack of incentives, and gaps in policies and planning
CHICAGO, May XX, 2023 – New survey data suggests a great divide between employers and employees over returning to the office after the pandemic. Less than half of employees are described as “happy” or “comfortable” about the prospect of returning to their workplaces. Three out of four companies say that retaining those who don’t want to come back in-house is a problem overall, while one in five calls it a “major” problem.
Recognizing the new challenges facing millions of employers and employees who transitioned to remote work during the pandemic, NORC at the University of Chicago recently conducted an in-depth survey of human resources representatives about the views of American employers and employees on returning to the office.
Nearly a quarter of HR representatives cite a loss of flexibility or work-life balance as the top reason they think employees were unwilling to come back to the office, and an equal number mention the ease, convenience, and increased productivity of working from home. Sixteen percent of respondents say that the time or cost of commuting to and from work was also a deterrent.
“Working from home is unlikely to completely go away, but many employers believe working together and in-person is a huge factor in creating workplace culture. This creates a tension employers and employees will have to navigate.”
The survey also revealed substantial differences across different types of employers. While nine out of 10 had not introduced any new policies or incentives to encourage a return to the office, those who did tended to be in the private sector. For-profit companies were nearly twice as likely as their government or nonprofit counterparts to introduce enticements such as social events (64% vs. 31%) and in-office social spaces (51% vs. 19%), increased access to leadership (52% to 35%), and gratuities such as free snacks (82% vs. 38%).
“The survey provides employers with useful information on how other companies are navigating this new environment,” said David Dutwin, senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives and director of NORC’s new Center for Panel Survey Sciences. “Working from home is unlikely to completely go away, but many employers believe working together and in-person is a huge factor in creating workplace culture. This creates a tension employers and employees will have to navigate.”
Other notable survey findings include that 72% of companies reduced the size of their office space. A third had still not created a remote work policy dictating who is eligible and when, despite the popularity of remote work.
Methodology
NORC interviewed human resource (HR) representatives using the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel, a unique survey panel that NORC built for the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) that is designed to be representative of US companies. Researchers surveyed 1,099 HR representatives of companies from a broad mix of industries where at least 10 percent of employees were either fully remote or on a hybrid schedule. NORC fielded the survey in November and December 2022. It included open-ended follow-up questions that yielded a wealth of information about both employers and employees as viewed through the HR lens. Some of these HR departments had polled company employees about returning to the office, while others had not.
About NORC at the University of Chicago
NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.
Contact: For more information, please contact Eric Young at NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell).
About NORC’s Center for Panel Survey Sciences
Founded by NORC, the Center for Panel Survey Sciences is the first-ever resource for researchers who wish to advance the science of panel surveys. Championed by an active network of research fellows, the Center promotes transparency and scientific excellence by making both data and new methodologies accessible across the industry.