A new study reveals a sharp divide between employers and employees over the future of office work. The 2020 pandemic has given workers a taste of the freedom of working from home. However, now that the pandemic is completely over, companies want their shiny offices to be filled again. As companies ramp up efforts to bring staff back on-site, many workers are pushing back. Some even go as far as quitting rather than give up remote flexibility. Conducted by King’s College London and King’s Business School, the research highlights shifting expectations when it comes to work. Most people have grown used to a hybrid lifestyle.
Remote Work Preferences Are Firmly Rooted
According to the study, only 42% of UK workers support returning to the office full-time. The remaining majority prefers a more balanced model or outright rejects the return altogether. Half of all surveyed employees say they would rather leave their current job than be forced back into a five-day office routine.
Among the most resistant groups are women—particularly mothers of young children. Just 33% of them say they would comply with a full-time in-office policy. This trend reflects not only lifestyle preferences but also the practical advantages of remote work in managing childcare and home responsibilities.
On the other end of the spectrum, Black and minority ethnic workers were more likely to accept a return, though researchers suggest this may stem from concerns over job security rather than enthusiasm for the office.
The Full-Time Office Return Isn’t Catching On
Despite corporate pressure, the data shows that remote work remains a staple of UK professional life. One in four workers still operates from home at least three days per week. Many have adjusted to the autonomy and productivity of remote settings, and for a growing segment of the workforce, the office is now just one of several places work gets done.
This push-and-pull is reshaping the modern work culture. While some companies cling to traditional models, employees are signaling that the pandemic-era shift in work habits isn’t temporary—it’s the new normal.
