As more employers mandate return-to-office policies, some workers are finding ways to skirt the requirements.
A recent survey from ResumeBuilder found 1 in 5 workers aren’t following their companies’ RTO policy. The report, which surveyed 1,030 U.S.-based full-time workers for companies that implemented RTO since 2020, also found the majority of workers want to be in the office three days a week or less, despite many organizations pushing for a full-scale return.
One bright side for organizations? According to the report, 78% of respondents said they are abiding by their company’s RTO policies, compared to the 18% who say they occasionally find a way to work around the policy. A much smaller group admitted to more frequent non-compliance with the rules, with 2% saying they rarely follow the policy and 1% claiming they don’t follow it all.
Whether or not a worker complies may depend on their schedule, with those on a hybrid schedule having a higher rate of non-compliance. Among workers required to be in the office one to three days a week, only 61% fully abide by the RTO policy, according to the study.
“For many employees, remote work has become a non-negotiable part of their professional lives,” Stacie Haller, Resume Builder’s chief career advisor, said in the report. “As companies attempt to reinstate in-office requirements, there has been pushback from workers. Employers should know job seekers today still have options if they are looking to work remotely.”
