The Secret Rebellion: How Remote Workers Are Defying Return-to-Office Mandates

Employers are increasingly calling workers back to the office, but many are resisting. Despite a cooling job market and rising anxieties, new research reveals that compliance is low. The average number of required office days has risen by 12% over the past year, yet actual attendance has only increased by 1-3%, according to Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and publisher of the Flex Index.

Stanford University economics professor Nick Bloom, who studies remote work, compares harsh return-to-office mandates to jaywalking laws: "It exists, everybody knows about it and nobody obeys it because it makes little sense."

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, showing up at the office five days a week was the norm. When offices shut down, millions adapted to remote work, enjoying the flexibility and improved work-life balance. Even as offices reopened, many continued working from home or adopted hybrid schedules.

However, a wave of return-to-office mandates has followed. Employers argue that in-person interactions are essential for collaboration, innovation, mentoring new employees, and fostering company culture. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon defended their move to require five days in the office, emphasizing its importance for company culture.

Workers, on the other hand, are unhappy. They cite downsides like long commutes that increase stress and reduce productivity, higher daily costs averaging $61 for hybrid workers in the office, and challenges with scheduling doctor's appointments and childcare, especially for working mothers. Morale has suffered at companies like JPMorgan, with some employees reducing their effort and strictly adhering to work hours.

Middle managers are also not enthusiastic about enforcing these mandates, as they often disagree with the rules set by CEOs.

How Remote Workers Defy RTO Mandates

Noncompliance takes various forms:

• Coffee badging: Workers swipe into the office, grab a coffee, and leave early or have coworkers swipe for them. Owl Labs reports that 44% of US employees ordered back to the office admit to this, with 70% caught by employers.
• Ignoring RTO mandates: In firms with lax tracking, employees simply don't comply if no one notices, especially if teams are dispersed.
• Negotiating special treatment: High-performers use their leverage to secure remote work deals, as managers prioritize performance over compliance.
• Complying then slacking off: Employees comply initially to please bosses but gradually reduce office attendance over time.

Employers are responding with stricter measures. According to a CBRE survey, 72% of companies are achieving their attendance goals, and 38% expect further increases. Office surveillance is on the rise, with 69% of companies monitoring attendance through badge swipes, cell-phone tracking, and other methods—up from 45% last year. Companies like Amazon, Meta, and TikTok have systems in place, and Samsung has introduced tools to combat coffee badging.

Nearly 37% of companies are taking enforcement actions, up from 17% in 2024. Despite this, remote workers still have some flexibility; for example, one company monitors attendance over an eight-week period, allowing averages as low as 1.5 days per week before intervention.