A recent survey by NORC at the University of Chicago has revealed a big issue: forcing employees who prefer working remotely to come back to the office is causing a serious retention problem.

The survey showed that 54% of HR pros admitted that making remote workers return was a "small problem," and 19% said it was a "big problem." This shows that inflexible return-to-work policies are making employees unhappy.

The employee survey brought up interesting findings. Things like social events and COVID-19 safety rules aren’t what remote or hybrid workers care about. They’d rather get paid more for working in the office. Also, commuter benefits seem to matter to them, showing a change in what employees want while transitioning back to the office.

The survey also found a mismatch between what employees want and what companies are offering. Even though a lot of workers are unhappy or uneasy about going back, only 13% of HR folks said their company introduced new policies or incentives to help with this. And only 4% said they started paying more for in-office work, even though that’s what employees want.

This data shows that companies need to rethink their return-to-work plans to keep their employees happy. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work anymore, especially when hybrid work is getting more popular. Companies need to be more flexible.

This isn’t the only survey with these findings. Almost half of those responding to an Integrated Benefits Institute survey released in August said they’d quit if made to return to the office full-time.

To fix this and stop employees from leaving, companies need to consider the following tips:

1. Flexible Rules: Have rules that let employees work in the office or remotely, letting them choose what works best for them.

2. Fair Pay: Recognize that working in person has value and consider paying employees more if they choose to do that.

3. Tailored Perks: Understand what employees want and offer benefits that match, like commuter benefits or other things that make the in-office experience better.

4. Clear Talk: Communicate openly and listen to employees’ worries and what they want when going back to the office.

5. Adapt Rules: Keep checking and changing return-to-work rules based on what employees say and how things change. Being flexible will help handle this shift better.

In short, inflexible return-to-work policies are causing a problem in keeping employees, and companies need to act. By putting employees first, giving them the perks they want, and making a work environment that’s open and flexible, companies can keep their best people and build a team that’s ready for success in the new normal of work.