New research has shed light on the negative impact of companies’ return-to-office mandates, with senior employees apparently fighting back against the rules.
a study Research from researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago has found that senior-level employees are actively leaving companies like Microsoft, Apple and SpaceX to work for companies that promote more flexible and hybrid work setups.
The study analyzed resume data from tech workers affected by office work mandates, singling out notable companies like those mentioned above for their early reimplementation of in-person work.
Employees are still not happy with office work
The study found that Microsoft’s policy, which required employees to spend half their week at a desk in their formal workplace, resulted in a 4% increase in job openings among seniors. Apple’s policies resulted in a similar number of walkouts, while SpaceX saw a staggering 15% loss of senior talent.
Interestingly, the study also paid close attention to employees’ destinations after they left, noting that many Microsoft employees had moved on to companies like Intel, Amazon, Dell and Meta.
Additionally, the study warns of the border implications of RTO mandates, highlighting the need for a better balance between remote and on-site work policies.
The study concludes: “Our findings imply that a return to office mandates could impose significant human capital costs in terms of output, productivity, innovation and competitiveness for the companies that implement them.”
As more companies adopt similar personal work policies, driven by the belief that such environments promote a more productive workplace, and others continue with cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, the impact of such mandates on talent retention could become even more apparent.