As the pandemic subsides and restrictions are lifted, many companies are urging employees to return to the physical workspace. This trend began to emerge last year, with a report from Resume Builder in September 2022 stating that 90% of companies required their workers to return to the office at least part of the week.

Proponents of this movement posit that prolonged remote work has had a negative impact on office culture and that productivity is enhanced when employees can interact and collaborate in person. 

Some companies are implementing strict measures to ensure compliance, such as attendance tracking or even issuing ultimatums for non-compliance. Among the leaders in this charge are Starbucks and Disney, both of which have announced in-office mandates for staff members.

However, a study by Future Forum, a consortium established by Slack, suggests that a flexible work culture is essential for improving productivity and job satisfaction. More than 55% of respondents in the survey said that their company culture had improved over the past two years due to flexible work policies, which they believe are the primary reason behind the improvement.

Remote or in-office? Finding the sweet spot 

The survey, which was conducted between November 16 and December 22, 2022 and polled 10,243 employees, found that 67% of respondents preferred a hybrid work arrangement with access to a physical workspace as an option.

While some CEOs, such as Disney's Bob Iger, have called for a return to the office at least four days a week, others believe that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the solution. Companies that are open to experimentation and innovation are the ones that are likely to succeed, according to Sheela Subramanian, Co-Founder and VP of Slack's Future Forum.

"We are still in the middle of this massive experiment, and those who are saying, 'It's over. We're all going back to how things used to be,' are getting a lot of pushback and resistance from their employee base," added Subramanian.

The survey highlights the importance of flexible work policies for modern workers and the need for companies to consider the views of their employees when making decisions about the workplace. 

The trend towards hybrid and remote positions has become increasingly prevalent in the last two years, with 87% of Americans expressing a desire for a flexible work environment that accommodates both office-based and virtual work.

Despite the challenges in implementing hybrid work plans, it is clear that this mode of working is becoming more prevalent and is being embraced by companies through the use of catchy slogans such as "Flex with Purpose" and "Work Appropriately".