The Great Compliance: How Remote Work Power is Shifting Back to Employers in 2026

The End of Worker Leverage in Remote Work

A dramatic reversal is underway in the remote work landscape. Just one year after a report found that 51% of U.S. workers would quit immediately rather than accept a non-negotiable return-to-office (RTO) order, a new national survey reveals that only 7% of employees now say they would quit outright over a mandatory RTO policy.

This shift signals that The Great Resignation has given way to The Great Compliance, as job security tightens and employer authority resurges. Workers are increasingly viewing remote work as a privilege rather than a right.

Key Survey Findings

• Only 7% of employees would quit over mandatory RTO, compared to 51% in 2025
• 74% of workers predict they'll have the same or less bargaining power for flexibility in 2026
• 46% expect companies to become stricter about requiring on-site attendance
• 73% expect employers to expand surveillance tools to enforce accountability
• 44% believe at least half of U.S. companies will eliminate remote work by end of 2026

"The era of employee leverage has ended," said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume. "As companies regain control, workers are realizing flexibility isn't guaranteed; it's negotiated. Employers know they have the upper hand, and they're using it to reset expectations around office attendance and accountability."

Fewer Workers Ready to Walk

When faced with a non-negotiable RTO mandate, workers now say they would:

• 7% quit immediately
• 33% start looking for another remote job
• 36% comply with the mandate
• 25% selected "none of the above"

This marks a steep drop from 2025, when a combined 91% said they would either quit or job hunt for another remote role rather than comply. The shift shows how economic uncertainty has cooled worker resistance.

Productivity Over People

Workers point to business motives, not culture, as driving the RTO movement:

• 48% cite productivity concerns as the primary driver
• 18% attribute it to leadership preference
• 11% to real-estate cost justification
• 11% to efforts to quietly reduce headcount
• 9% to culture concerns

Only 3% selected "other," indicating that workers view most RTO mandates as economically motivated rather than cultural or collaborative.

Likewise, when asked what benefits companies will claim from RTO:

• 38% predict "higher productivity"
• 22% say "better collaboration"
• 19% cite "easier management"
• 13% expect "stronger culture"
• 7% point to "better customer service"

Outlook for 2026

• 43% predict a more on-site workforce
• 40% expect more hybrid work arrangements
• 17% foresee an increase in remote roles

When asked which group will be most favored for pay and promotions in 2026:

• 40% selected on-site employees
• 14% chose hybrid employees
• 7% selected remote employees
• 39% expect no difference

Additionally:

• 44% believe at least half of U.S. companies will have eliminated remote work by 2026
• 40% expect companies to reduce office space
• 22% expect expansion
• 38% anticipate no change
• 74% say they'll have the same or less bargaining power to demand flexibility in 2026

In 2026, workers overwhelmingly expect to tilt back toward the office: just 27% predict a primarily remote workforce, while 47% expect most roles to be on-site, and another 27% foresee a hybrid model.