Four years on from the pandemic that propelled workers into a new day-to-day reality, employers are fighting for a return to the office.
Some of the world’s largest companies have started to pull back on flexibility measures, with the latest to join the running list being Big Four Accounting Firm PwC, who this week announced tighter rules requiring its 26,000 UK employees to spend more time in the office.
In addition, the professional services firm said it would monitor office attendance in the same way it does chargeable hours.
The firm told staff and partners that they should spend at least three days a week in the office or with clients, up from two or three days previously.
A spokesperson for PwC confirmed to the Irish Examiner that staff in Ireland are also expected to be “in the office or at a client site at least three days a week”.
In its British business, managing partner Laura Hinton said during this week’s announcement: “Face-to-face working is hugely important to a people business like ours, and the new policy tips the balance of our working week into being located alongside clients and colleagues.
“This feels right for our business and right for our people, given our focus on client service, coaching, and learning and development.”
Leading the way on a European level, Ireland’s workforce has transitioned to hybrid working at a greater rate than any other country in the EU, meaning companies attempting to get employees back into the office have their work cut out for them.
Latest census figures from the CSO report that the number of people working mainly from home increased by 173% between 2016 and 2022, from 94,955 workers to 259,467.
In addition, the CSO also said that nearly a third of Ireland’s workforce, or around 750,000 employees, worked from home at least one day a week.
Despite companies’ best efforts, demands like these among certain employers have been met with push back from employees, with many of those who have become accustomed to flexible working conditions unwilling to forgo their new-found benefits.
A recent survey from EmployFlex indicated that all things being equal, 92% of employees would move from their current role for more flexibility in another position.
However, the past 12 months have revealed a subtle shift in power which may have large consequences on the future of remote work.
Despite clear demand from employees, several employers including Facebook and Instagram owner Meta recently announced it would be reversing its working-from-home policy despite telling staff it would allow permanent remote working after the pandemic.
In another example, Zoom, a staple throughout multiple Covid lockdowns also told employees living near a Zoom office that they would be required to be on-site two days a week to collaborate with fellow employees.
In addition, industry giants including Disney, X, Starbucks and fellow Big Four firms KPMG and EY, are all mandating more in-person days, with some going as far as a return to full-time office working patterns for their employees.
According to recent data compiled by LinkedIn, there was a 37% drop in the share of remote jobs among all listings in Ireland compared to the previous year.
Moria Grassick, COO at HR firm Peninsula Ireland, told the Irish Examiner: “We’re seeing companies across Ireland starting to implement core days in the office, reflecting a growing trend towards more frequent in-office presence.
“Despite all the headlines surrounding a 4-day work week it’s clear that this is not a reality for many businesses.
“Only 2.2% of SMEs globally have moved to a 4-day working week, with a further 0.6% having trialled it and found it did not work for them.
“Instead, 50% of all employers say that their employees are all in the workplace full-time, 14.7% have flexible working hours, and 10.1% have made hybrid working a permanent policy.”
Speaking on PwC’s latest move, Ms Grassick said: “We have already started to see the overall trend in current working practices align across both the UK and Ireland.
“Staff are spending more time in the office in 2024. Remote jobs are continuing to decrease, and more business owners are moving back towards a full-time in-office workforce as we move further away from the pandemic.”
“It’s all about navigating the happy medium between employer’s desire to have people working in-person and employees wishes for flexibility.”