Workers demanding a range of incentives to return to the office and an end to work-from-home arrangements have been criticized for their entitled attitude.
New research from Ranstad shows that 24 percent of workers say only a significant pay increase would lure them back to a full-time office job.
But 79 percent (nearly four in five) of employees would happily return to the office voluntarily if they were offered a range of perks.
Of those surveyed, 38 percent of white-collar workers wanted free transportation to work and/or free parking – neither of which they have had to pay for while working from home.
The same number said they wanted free lunches.
About 20 percent wanted free gym membership or yoga, pilates or massages in the office to be enticed back to the city.
Businesswoman and social commentator Prue MacSween said the people making such “unreasonable” demands are “poison” to their workplace.
“It’s clear that these people don’t want to be the successful applicants because you know these are outrageous demands and it indicates a certain mentality,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘As an employer I wouldn’t want to hire one of them. I wouldn’t even feed one of them.’
New research from Ranstad shows that 24 percent of workers say only a significant pay increase would entice them to a full-time office job (stock image)
Businesswoman and social commentator Prue MacSween (pictured) said workers making such ‘unreasonable’ demands are ‘poison’ to their workplace
Ms MacSween said employees making such expensive demands “have no understanding of the consequences of running a business”.
‘THey, those are people you don’t want in your company because they’re poison.’
Angela Anasis, managing director of Randstad Australia, was more sympathetic to the employees.
‘After four years of remote and hybrid working, officers feel they have earned the right to work from home and many have made life choices, such as buying a pet or moving further away from the office, thinking this flexibility was there . to stay,” she said.
“It is no surprise that they are concerned that this right is being taken away without proper justification.”
A third of 965 Australian white-collar workers surveyed said they would need additional paid leave to return to the office.
Nearly one in four, 23 percent, said improved technology to improve productivity would make them return voluntarily, while 22 percent said they would return if the office layout and design were improved.
Up to 15 percent wanted subsidized childcare, while 14 percent said they wanted on-site workshops, seminars or guest speaker sessions.
Providing meals also proved popular, with 16 percent of respondents saying they want after-work events where they can enjoy free food and drinks.
However, Ms MacSween said these were ‘unrealistic demands’ on business owners who could sometimes not pay themselves for weeks.
“What they don’t understand is that people who run businesses are often moms and dads who have mortgaged their homes,” she said.
They, they’re just not people you want in your life, let alone your business. They are there for themselves, they are not there for the betterment of the company.’
Up to 21 percent said perks such as free gym membership or in-office yoga, pilates or massages would be needed to bring them back from WFH (Sydney employees)
Ms MacSween acknowledged that companies are already using perks to attract and retain top talent.
“But that is recognition for someone who is going to improve the bottom line and add a lot to the company,” she said.
“If you want to hire a top employee, they have offered things like free cars, paying tuition, and in some cases even paying for vacations for the family.
“If you look at these people who have made these demands, they are clearly people who are really, really disposable.”
Randstad estimates that offering some of the desired perks twice a week could cost as little as $4,034 per employee per year.
The company said this is just a fraction of the average replacement cost of $21,450 per employee, which could rise to $97,500 when indirect factors such as lost productivity and knowledge depletion are taken into account.