Remote Work Preference: Employees Avoid Office Return

Tasted once and there's nothing better - employees:inside no longer want to miss the flexibility of remote working. But why exactly do people not want to go back to the office to work?

Employees want to be heard and have their needs met. It's about setting boundaries in a society eager for office presence. For many people, working in an actual work building means delivering micromanagement. It's about feeling like you have to be physically present in order to be controlled in your productivity. But the pandemic has shown that employees can be very productive working remotely, and in many cases are happier doing so. A company that forces its employees to work full-time in the office again does not convey appreciation and trust.

However, the desire to work in a home office goes much further in some cases. 37% of employees in Germany say they have already experienced discrimination at work, with triggers ranging from gender, age and racism to sexual orientation. The term office culture therefore only ever addresses a specific group of people. Namely, those who feel comfortable in the workplace. In addition, there is the increasing polarization of political and social views in society, which naturally extends to the office walls. This can have a serious impact on the sense of community in the workplace.

So What Should An Employer Do To Ensure A Happy And Productive Team That Enjoys Working From Home As Well As On-Site?

Employers should show their employees that universal working from home does not solve any problems. For example, discrimination and harassment can also be the order of the day virtually. So there is no such thing as an optimal workplace. But a company can create optimal workplace conditions and boundaries to meet the needs of its employees. However, there can be no one-size-fits-all solution. Employers need to talk to their employees and create a culture of open communication and listening in order to focus on well-being in the office.

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And what are the reasons for employees to come back to the office?

For newcomers in particular, starting a new job remotely tends to be difficult. We learn to integrate ourselves into a work culture and our tasks by observing the interactions and working methods of our colleagues.

The feeling of togetherness and the will to collaborate also increases when employees meet in person from time to time. Informal conversations that strengthen interpersonal relationships take place in the hallway, not in a planned Zoom meeting.

Finally, we all seek meaning in what we do - including our work. When employees work together, even physically, there is a sense of a common mission. They pursue the same goal, observe the way their colleagues work, and thus begin to share a common mission. This in turn is reflected in the employees' satisfaction with their jobs, and work suddenly means much more than just earning a daily bread.