1 in 5 employees skirt or ignore office attendance policies

Many employees are ignoring return-to-work policies and some are even willing to quit their job if they are forced to do so, according to a survey of more than 1,000 US employees by Resume Builder. Most employees indicated they fully abide by their company’s RTO rules, however 18% said they sometimes find a way around the policy, 2% said they rarely follow company RTO policies and 1% said they never follow RTO policies, 

Employees working a hybrid schedule were less compliant with their employer’s office attendance policies, the survey found. Only 61% of workers required to be in the office between one and three days per week fully abide by that policy.

Employees are skirting RTO policies in a variety of ways, including having a co-worker swipe or sign them in and out. Most commonly, employees get around RTO policies by leaving the office early. This has led to a new moniker for such employees – coffee badgers, those who show up to the office, get their coffee and then leave.

Employers are walking a fine line when it comes to implementing RTO policies, as many employees are unhappy with such rules. Thirty-one percent of employees were satisfied with their employer’s RTO policy and 34% indicated they were somewhat satisfied. However 14% said they are neutral on their employer’s RTO policy, 13% were somewhat dissatisfied and 8% were very dissatisfied. 

Further, 20% of workers said they are very likely to leave their job if their employer cracks down on compliance, and one-third are somewhat likely to quit. 

Respondents identified several challenges with their current RTO policies, including commute time (45%), lack of flexibility in work hours (34%), commute cost (33%), difficulty balancing personal responsibilities (29%), office distractions (26%), and reduced productivity compared to remote work (24%).

Read more: Weighing the risks and benefits of enforcing RTO policies

But when employees want to walk, money talks, the report found. When asked what would improve their satisfaction with their current RTO policy, 67% of respondents pointed to a raise. Other motivators included flexible start and end times (51%), transportation benefits (30%), a lunch allowance (28%), catered lunch (26%), and an employee wellness program (23%).

In addition, many employees feel more productive when they are able to choose their work location. The top reasons for reduced productivity in the office include interruptions from colleagues or management (72%), a noisy environment (69%), being drained from the commute (54%), and feeling less focused in the office (50%). Other factors are social distractions (48%), too many meetings (35%) and an unsuitable office layout (31%). A smaller percentage (6%) cited a lack of access to necessary tools or technology.

“It has become increasingly clear that productivity varies significantly based on individual preferences and work settings,” said Resume Builder chief career advisor Stacie Haller. “Some employees thrive in structured office environments, while many find that working from home allows them to be more efficient and productive.”