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Amid widespread tech layoffs and return-to-office mandates, a new study by HR software firm BambooHR reveals a troubling disconnect between employer intentions and worker satisfaction.
The survey, which included responses from over 1,500 employees and around 500 HR professionals, found that a quarter of executives and a fifth of HR professionals admitted they hoped RTO mandates would drive employees to quit.
This revelation comes at a challenging time for companies worldwide as they grapple with budget constraints.
Midway through 2024, research from layoffs.fyi shows that more than 90,000 tech workers have already been laid off—about one-third of the total tech layoffs in 2023.
The BambooHR study found that 37% of leaders believed their companies had implemented layoffs in the past year due to insufficient voluntary resignations.
Additionally, many workers suspect that the push for office-based working is a tactic to increase employee surveillance.
This suspicion is driving employees to socialize and move around the office simply to appear busy, which BambooHR’s head of HR, Anita Grantham, noted as particularly counterproductive.
Grantham highlighted that 42% of employees felt their presence in the office was more about being seen by their bosses than actually increasing productivity.
Remote employees face similar pressures, often keeping work messaging apps open to appear constantly online—a phenomenon dubbed the “green status effect.”
Despite these efforts, workers reported spending about two hours of their working days on non-work-related activities.
Grantham suggested that companies should focus on creating a culture that respects individual employee needs and fosters open communication.
Without clear and supportive policies, the push for a return to the office could continue to erode employee-employer trust, negatively impacting productivity.
