ResumeTemplates.com, the platform for free professional resume templates and examples, has published a survey report examining the motivations behind increasing in-office days. The survey took in replies from 1,551 business leaders in the United States.
According to the findings, 26 per cent of companies have already expanded their return-to-office (RTO) requirements in 2024, with an additional 12 per cent planning to do so by year-end. Looking ahead, another 9 per cent of businesses expect to follow suit in 2025. Among companies that have increased or plan to increase RTO days, 34 per cent have moved or will move to a five-day in-office schedule, while 28 per cent are shifting to three days per week, 25 per cent to four days, and 14 per cent to one or two days per week.
The primary reasons for increasing in-office work days include boosting productivity (70 per cent) and fostering collaboration (65 per cent). Additional motivations include improving employee oversight (50 per cent), making better use of office space (42 per cent), and even encouraging employees to quit (8 per cent). Notably, a majority of companies acknowledge they are disregarding employee preferences for hybrid or remote work.
“There are many factors behind why a company might increase RTO,” says ResumeTemplate’s chief career strategist Julia Toothacre. “One of the main ones, which most companies are reluctant to admit, but did reveal in this poll, is the hope that employees will quit, allowing them to avoid layoffs.”
Survey findings also indicate that companies hoping certain employees will quit aim to eliminate those they perceive as less dedicated (54 per cent) or underperforming (48 per cent). Additionally, companies believe this strategy will help reduce costs (48 per cent), avoid layoffs (48 per cent), and remove employees seen as lazy (43 per cent).
