Is returning to the office inevitable, or is remote work here to stay?

Since the pandemic kept a lot of us on lockdown, many companies adopted hybrid or remote work arrangements. But four years later, these options, for the most part, are becoming less common. Companies like Goldman Sachs and Google are pushing employees to head back to the office. In fact, a report last August by Resume Builder found that 90% of companies surveyed are planning return-to-office policies by the end of this year.

But a lot of employees are dragging their feet – or just straight up refusing to go back to how things used to be. Hybrid or remote workers often say they have a better work/life balance and save time and money on commuting and childcare. Some can even afford larger homes by moving to less expensive areas. These factors can make life outside of the office more appealing. For example, Verna Coleman, who works in New York City but lives in Ohio, told The New York Times that she'd rather take a short flight every other week than sit in traffic for two-and-a-half hours every day.

The benefits also allow people, and women in particular, to have families and keep their careers, which is a problem many women are struggling with in East Asian countries like China, South Korea, and Japan. Those countries are facing population declines, but many women are choosing a career over starting a family because of the challenges of juggling both.

But, some companies disagree, and more employers are demanding that their workers come to the office for at least a few days of the week. Some employees also say they miss the socializing and the lifestyle they had when they were going into an office. "I do miss the community; I miss saying hello to people and getting interrupted by someone who likes my lipstick that day," Jen Holmes told Bloomberg.

A Gartner survey in 2021 found that 68% of executives and managers believed in-office workers were higher performers than remote employees, meaning remote workers may be overlooked for possible promotions. That might also explain why data based on white-collar workers in the US last year showed that remote workers are 35% more likely to be let go than those who go into the office, according to employment data firm Live Data Technologies. 

Alyssa Ciesky, a talent acquisition specialist who works remotely, told The Wall Street Journal that she's fully aware of the risks remote workers face, saying, "They're easy to get rid of, you can't put a face to the name, there's no personal connection."

It's a multifaceted issue, with remote workers having to consider that their jobs may not be as stable. But many are happy to risk it if it means they have more time at home.  

All in all, hybrid and remote working are starting to shift from their popularity during the pandemic era. While some companies are happy to offer hybrid and remote roles, others are more reluctant. These work arrangements affect all sides of a business, but it's ultimately up to what an employee is willing to do – at least, for now.