How many are OK with going to the office two or three days per week?
Only three per cent of employees in Australia want to return to the office full time, despite strong encouragement from employers to increase their on-site presence, according to a new report.
Findings from Morgan McKinley's Global Workplace Guide revealed 97% of employees continue to prefer hybrid or remote work models.
In fact, more than half of the Australian respondents (56%) said they only prefer to be on-site for up to two days a week, while 24% said they want to be in-office for three to four days.
More than half (57%) of employees even said they are willing to give up a pay hike if it meant getting their desired flexibility at work.
Strong push for office return
The findings come amid a strong office-return push from many executives worldwide.
In Australia, 65% of employers are urging staff to return to workplaces, higher than the global average of 56%.
Dominic Bareham, managing director of Morgan McKinley Australia, said the tightening labour market has "spurred" organisations to mandate working in the office.
"The approach that companies take is likely to differentiate themselves over many years to come and will see people moving organisations to find the ideal setup for each of their circumstances," he said in a statement.
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According to the report, potential attrition is highest for employees who work onsite five days a week (56%), compared to hybrid (41%) and fully remote (44%) employees.
"Simply mandating a five-day-a-week office presence would likely encounter resistance and productivity dips. Our research underscores the resounding preference for flexibility, with 86% advocating for continued adoption of hybrid arrangements," Bareham said.
Right approach to office return needed
It is therefore important that employers implement a strategic and mindful approach to office returns, according to the managing director.
"Striking the balance between flexibility and practicality calls for close collaboration through open communication channels and understanding the motivations driving employees' desires for flexible work arrangements," he said.
"We advise our clients to be clear on work from home and flexibility policies early in the process to maximise success rate when hiring to create a more inclusive, productive, and resilient workforce."