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Survey shows a third of younger British workers would quit job if forced back to office
New data from Employment Hero ’ s 2022 Remote Working Report shows knowledge workers overwhelmingly want to retain the option to work from home – and would consider quitting any job which denied them the ability to .
The survey of more than 2,000 UK-based knowledge workers found 88 % wanted to work from home for at least one day a week , while 39 % wanted to work remotely every day , 36 % two to three days a week and just 12 % wanted to go to the office every day .
Many , but not all , have been granted some level of flexibility , with 22 % working fully remote and 42 % working in a mix of remote and at the office . Over a third ( 36 %) are now entirely office-based . This push back into the office is likely to cause friction , particularly with younger employees – some of whom have been working at home for a significant chunk of their careers .
Thirty-three percent of those aged 25 – 34 said they would likely quit if forced back into the office , and a further 20 % said they would consider it . Of those of any age already in a remote or flexible arrangement , 44 % said they would either quit or consider it .
The forced return to the office came overwhelmingly from management , who were by far the happiest about the return to the office . Seventy-six percent of employers or senior executives were happy about a return to the office , compared to 51 % of non-manager professionals . Top reasons cited as advantages for homebased working included climate change and the cost of living crisis .
Remote working was seen as the best option for preventing climate change by 59 % of respondents , and for its positive influence on personal finances by 52 %. More than half of workers in marginalised groups ( 54 %) agreed remote work protected them from discrimination at work , compared with just 14 % who said it didn ’ t .
Charlotte Boffey , Head of UK Services at Employment Hero , said : “ This survey confirms that the pre-pandemic office is not coming back , and employers should recognise that by working with their employees to develop good hybrid working . Some ability to work from home is definitely important . This doesn ’ t mean everyone wants to stay at home all the time – but it does mean that retaining flexibility is key for employers who want to hold on to their staff – and attract new ones .
“ Employers unhappy with this new normal should consider exactly what is making them uncomfortable , and look to mitigate that issue . If they feel their employees are unmotivated at home , they are likely to be unmotivated in the office too . Getting an exact read on your culture through an anonymous survey could be a good first step to fix wider issues in the workplace – wherever that workplace is .” x
REMOTE WORKING WAS SEEN AS THE BEST OPTION FOR PREVENTING CLIMATE CHANGE BY 59 % OF RESPONDENTS , AND FOR ITS POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON PERSONAL FINANCES BY 52 %.
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