The latest ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View report reveals that younger workers are more reluctant than their older colleagues to return to the workplace full-time.
This is especially true in Australia where 54 per cent of 18-24 year-olds and 65 per cent of 25-34 year-olds would consider looking for another job if their employer insisted on a full-time return to the workplace. This is compared to 46 per cent of the 45-54 age bracket and only 27 per cent of the 55 and over demographic.
The report notes that extended COVID lockdowns have heralded a shift in worker habits that is unlikely to be reversed in the long term. It also shows that younger employees have vastly shifted expectations and hopes for the workplace of the future, including a greater expectation of flexibility. Travel time and surging travel costs are also acting as further detractors to full-time office work.
“After experiencing extended lockdowns in many states, remote and flexible working has become an expectation for many Australians,” Kylie Baullo, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, ADP, said. “Returning to in-person work full time is a daunting proposition for workers, particularly the younger generations, and companies should consider their future workplace arrangements.
“Whilst remote work was a necessity during peak COVID waves, businesses must now be more purposeful and conscious of the evolving needs of workers and employers as they navigate future working arrangements, whether that includes a return to office or remote arrangements,” Baullo added. “Businesses should consider not only where employees prefer to work, but also how they work most effectively. Engaging and supporting people leaders to align how work is done with where work is done.”
Baullo said that the data calls out a strong employee voice, and that as businesses review how and where work will be done in the future, it will be vital to collaborate with their employees. She pointed out that face-to-face sessions between leaders and employees are helpful to ensure the different needs of generations and other individual scenarios are considered and planned for.
“Although returning to the workplace presents social and career benefits for young people, this research shows that the majority of workers of this age are opposed to a full-time return,” Baullo said. “Resistance is especially strong in the slightly older 25-34 and 35-44 year-old cohorts, who are more likely to have had a taste of office work before the COVID-19 pandemic and are better able to compare in-office and work-from-home arrangements.
“With this insight, these cohorts are telling us they are looking for a combination of the ability to work remotely whilst having team days and cross-functional collaboration, and development opportunities in the office,” she continued. “To ensure career opportunities are not missed, businesses will need to consider how to entice staff to work in-person, as well as provide a balanced workplace by also meeting the needs and wants of staff through flexible options.”
