A Business Insider report highlights growing friction over return-to-office (RTO) mandates, driving layoffs and resignations across industries. Companies like Amazon and Dell, enforcing stricter in-office policies, are seeing significant pushback as employees cling to hybrid and remote work preferences established during the pandemic.
A BambooHR survey found that 25% of U.S. workers would quit if forced to return to the office full-time, with 15% already resigning due to RTO policies in 2024. Meanwhile, firms are using RTO as a layoff strategy—10% of executives admitted to enforcing office attendance to encourage voluntary exits, per a Resume Builder report. For example, a tech firm in California saw 8% of its workforce leave after mandating five days in-office.
Employees cite long commutes, childcare challenges, and productivity losses as reasons for resistance. A 2025 FlexJobs study shows 63% of professionals prefer hybrid setups, valuing flexibility. On the other hand, companies argue that in-person work boosts collaboration and innovation, with some reporting a 5% productivity dip in fully remote teams.
The clash has led to a talent drain in sectors like tech and finance, where remote-friendly competitors are poaching workers. As RTO mandates intensify in 2025, businesses risk losing skilled employees unless they balance flexibility with office expectations.