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    Best Practice Institute 2021 Return to Work Study

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    The Great Disconnect: CEOs Want a Return to Office, Employees Don’t

    A 2021 Best Practice Institute study surveying over 3,300 employees and 280 CEOs revealed a stark discrepancy in preferences for the future of work. While technology has enabled remote work to become a viable option, leadership and staff hold vastly different views on returning to the traditional office environment.

    • CEOs: Over 83% of chief executives want their employees back in the office.
    • Employees: Only 10% of employees wish to return to the office full-time, with 64% preferring a remote-friendly, hybrid model.

    This gap highlights a critical challenge for organizations navigating the post-pandemic workplace. Aligning leadership expectations with employee desires is essential for maintaining morale and productivity.

    Did Productivity Suffer? No, It Increased

    A primary concern for employers regarding remote work is the potential for a decline in productivity. However, the BPI study debunked this fear, showing that productivity actually improved.

    • 76% of respondents felt their personal productivity improved.
    • 72% felt their entire team’s productivity improved.

    This increase in output, however, was not without its costs. Many employees reported working longer hours, which contributed to higher levels of stress and burnout.

    Employee Preferences for the Future of Work

    When asked about their ideal work environment, employees showed a clear preference for flexibility. The desire to remain remote was strongest in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, while those in business support and logistics were most likely to want to return to an office.

    What Employees Need to Work From Home

    To maintain productivity and engagement while remote, employees identified three critical needs:

    1. Communication: Chat capabilities and immediate access to teammates.
    2. Flexibility: Time to manage family and personal issues.
    3. Clarity: Clear focus and direction from managers.

    What Employees Expect When Returning to the Office

    For the minority who favored a return, or for those in hybrid models, expectations focused overwhelmingly on safety and respect. Over 60% of respondents prioritized health and safety.

    Key expectations for returning to an office include:

    • Clear and enforced health and safety guidelines (e.g., social distancing).
    • Organizational transparency and honesty.
    • Trust and respect from leadership.

    The Critical Role of Manager Experience

    The transition to remote work also impacted managers. The study found a significant performance gap based on prior experience managing virtual teams.

    • First-time remote managers: 43% felt their own productivity decreased.
    • Experienced remote managers: Only 23% felt their own productivity decreased.

    This data shows that successful remote work requires not just the right tools for employees, but also specific training and development for managers to lead virtual teams effectively.

    Recommendations for Moving Forward

    To bridge the gap between CEO and employee expectations, organizations should focus on creating flexible, safe, and supportive work environments.

    1. Embrace Hybrid Models: When possible, allow for a mix of remote and on-site work. This provides flexibility and aids in social distancing.
    2. Prioritize Health and Safety: For any on-site work, rigorously enforce health and safety protocols based on OSHA, CDC, and WHO guidelines. This includes measures like air quality control, social distancing markers, mask usage, and regular disinfection.
    3. Invest in Tools and Training: Equip employees with the right collaboration software. Provide targeted training for managers on how to lead and support virtual teams to maintain both productivity and well-being. '''
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    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.