Experts say employers need to listen to employees’ preferences and avoid ‘micromanaging and presenteeism’ to remain competitive

by Isabel Jackson 5 March 2024

More than two thirds (69 per cent) of employees said they would start searching for a new job if they were told to spend more time in the office, a new People Management poll has revealed.

The remaining 31 per cent of the 1,254 readers polled said they would stick with their current role if they were asked to come into the office more. 

Similarly, a separate survey by Robert Walters found that more than half (53 per cent) of employees said they would search for a new job if they were told they had to attend the office more often.

The survey of 2,000 UK professionals and employers also demonstrated that returning to the office had become a contentious topic, finding that a quarter (27 per cent) of employers wanted their staff in the office more.