The number of Australian businesses ordering their workers to return to the office five days a week has increased over the past 12 months, according to new data.
Nearly 40 percent of full-time staff are now required to attend work in the office throughout the week, eliminating remote or hybrid work arrangements put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s double the number of people expected to be in the office all week at this time last year, according to a study by recruitment firm Robert Half that surveyed 1,000 companies.
Last year, the most common work arrangements in the surveyed companies were hybrid styles: 26 percent of employees were required to come in three days a week and 28 percent, four days a week.
But it appears companies are moving from this setup to full weeks, with hybrid three- and four-day arrangements declining by roughly the same amount as five-day arrangements increased.
Those visiting the office for one and two days have remained stable at 4 percent and 14 percent respectively.
The number of employees who have retained full flexibility in their working arrangements (without being required to return to the office) also remains stable at 14 percent.
“The pendulum is swinging back to pre-pandemic levels, when working from home was an anomaly rather than an expectation,” said Robert Half CEO Andrew Brushfield.
The number of Australian businesses returning to full-time office work has doubled to 39 per cent in the past 12 months
Hybrid work arrangements, such as three or four days in the office, have declined over the same time period.
Of the total number of employees surveyed, 90 percent highlighted the benefits of working in the office, such as collaboration, access to resources, a better company culture and a sense of belonging.
But almost as many (84 percent) cited drawbacks such as higher costs, less flexibility, increased stress and a poorer work-life balance.
“In today’s work landscape, where flexibility is the new high-end currency for many employees, not everyone is happy with this shift away from remote and hybrid work,” Brushfield said.
‘While staff are becoming accustomed to coming into the office more frequently, the key for employers is to create an environment that highlights the positive aspects of working in the office.’
