Trendspotting: Are Workers Returning to the Office?

NewsWire: 10/27/21

• The share of workers returning to the office has reached a pandemic-era high. But that high is still pretty low, with around 36% of those surveyed saying they’re back. (The Wall Street Journal)
• NH: Since the pandemic began, we have written several NewsWires on remote vs. in-person working. Our take: Many workers want to stay remote. And companies should be wary of forcing employees back into the office. (See “Younger Workers Embrace Telecommuting” and “The Looming Battle Over Remote Work.”)
• Still, many journalists and executives predicted that large portions of the workforce would be in-person by fall 2021. A June survey of Manhattan executives by the Partnership of New York City estimated that 62% of workers would be in the office by September.
• So were they right? It seems not. 
• The share of workers returning to the office is still low. According to Kastle Systems' October analysis of office building access swipes in 10 major U.S. cities, only 36% of employees are back in their buildings. While that’s a pandemic high, it still means a whopping two-thirds of workers are remote. The analysis also found that only 30% of NYC workers are back. 
• Gallup has come to similar findings. It found that 67% of white-collar workers are remote at least part of the week. 

• Of course, many office re-openings were delayed due to the emergence of the delta variant. The question still remains whether employers will begin to push for in-person work as Covid-19 case numbers decline. But one thing is still clear: Workers want to be home. Gallup found that 91% of remote employees want to continue the practice after the pandemic ends.