New Survey Reveals Major Changes for the Return to the Office in 2023

First, the financial firms called employees back to the office full time. Then came tech giants, whose leaders promised indefinite remote work. Now it’s happening across industries. 

On January 11, Disney called employees back 4 days per week. The following day, Starbucks called corporate workers back. These moves are part of a larger trend among employers calling for employees to come back on-site to drive team performance and maximize revenue. The most recent data shows an acceleration from November 2022 when 31% of Irvine Company’s office customers reported plans to increase the required time in the office.

To find out how organizations are shaping their return to the office strategies for 2023, Irvine Company commissioned a study of senior-level business executives based in southern California. 

The survey revealed: 

1. Companies plan to increase in-office requirements, signaling a shift away from remote work.

• 67% of businesses plan to increase the amount of time employees are required to be in the office.

2. Nearly 9 in 10 employers currently require their teams to be in the office at least some of the time.

• 89% of businesses require employees to be in the office at least 1 day a week or more.
• 86% of businesses require employees to be in the office at least 2 days a week or more.
• 65% of businesses require employees to be in the office at least 3 days a week or more.

3. Return to the office announcements from major brands have impacted other organizations’ in-office work requirements for 2023. 

• 68% of businesses say that other companies’ new RTO policies have made them more likely to increase their in-office time requirements.

4. Market uncertainty is driving more employers to increase the amount of time employees are expected to be at the office. 

• 65% of businesses say a weakening job market makes them more likely to increase in-office time requirements.

The market research study included 250 director, senior management and C-suite level business executives based in southern California from organizations with 26 or more employees.