The return-to-office trend doesn’t show signs of slowing down, according to ResumeBuilder.com. The job seekers’ resource surveyed nearly 1,000 business leaders in the United States and found that almost half of companies will require employees to be in the office at least four days a week in 2026.
What’s more, one in eight companies is increasing the number of required days in the office in 2026, citing a desire to improve productivity and bolster company culture. And three in ten companies won’t allow employees to work remotely at all.
“Many leaders claim to support hybrid work but are calling employees back more often because of underlying pressures and old habits,” Stacie Haller, chief career adviser at ResumeBuilder.com, said in a report about the survey. “They equate visibility with productivity and fear losing culture and collaboration.”
Indeed, according to the survey, “most business leaders still believe hybrid work is the best model, even as their companies move in the opposite direction. While 28 percent of companies currently require employees to be in the office five days a week, only 16 percent of leaders think that should be the standard.” The largest proportion of employees say three days per week is ideal (27%), followed by two days (19%) and four days (13%).
Other studies back hybrid work proponents. “Research shows that increasing office attendance does not automatically improve productivity or culture; those assumptions are largely outdated post-pandemic,” Haller added. “Culture thrives not from proximity but from intentional communication, inclusion, and trust. Forcing more office days can erode engagement and morale, especially if employees see no clear benefit. The most successful hybrid models focus on purposeful presence, bringing people together for collaboration, creativity, and connection. In today’s workforce, autonomy and meaningful interaction drive culture more than physical attendance.”
That said, fewer than one-third of companies (28%) incentivize employees to come to the office. But among those that do, the reports notes, the most common incentives are social events (55%), catered meals (51%), and commuter benefits (51%), while fewer offer raises (34%) or child care benefits (30%).
From: BenefitsPRO
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