Return to office 2026: Mandates drive away top talent
4 min read
A strict return to the office can cost companies experienced employees. A study of 54 large US technology and financial firms found higher turnover and longer times to fill vacancies following announced office mandates. An experiment at Trip.com also shows that a hybrid model can improve employee retention. For German SMEs, the findings are a reason to examine their own workplace policies and their consequences.
Key takeaways
- Turnover rose after return-to-office mandates in a US study. The increase was particularly pronounced among women, managers and highly skilled employees.
- Hybrid working improved employee retention in an experiment. At Trip.com, the resignation rate in the group with two days of home working was one-third lower than in the office group.
- Workplaces differ. Company leaders should assess tasks, team arrangements and staffing risks before setting a uniform office attendance policy.
What was observed after return-to-office mandates
A research team analysed office attendance mandates at 54 technology and financial firms in the US S&P 500 stock index. The companies introduced the requirements between 2020 and 2023. The analysis drew on more than three million professional online profiles and job posting data, among other sources.
According to the study authors at Baylor University, turnover rates above industry trends rose by a relative 13 to 14 per cent on average after the announcements. The increase was greater among women, managers and highly skilled employees. At the same time, the average time to fill vacancies rose from 51 to 63 days.
The figures describe large US companies in two sectors. They do not predict how many employees an individual SME will lose because of an office attendance policy. A relative increase of 14 per cent in the turnover rate also does not mean that 14 per cent of the entire workforce leaves.
What the Trip.com hybrid experiment shows
For a study published in Nature, researchers randomly assigned 1,612 Trip.com employees to two groups. One group was allowed to work from home two days a week, while the comparison group worked in the office.
During the experiment, the resignation rate in the hybrid group was one-third lower. The researchers found no disadvantage in the performance reviews and promotions they examined over two years. The finding applies to the company and the roles studied. It establishes neither that working from home is suitable for every task nor an ideal weekly schedule for all businesses.
What does hybrid working mean? Employees divide their working time between their employer’s workplace and another location. A company can decide how often a team works together in the office and which tasks take place there to suit its operations.
How widespread home working is in Germany
According to the ifo Institute, 24.9 per cent of employees overall worked at least partly from home in August 2026. The figure was 35.1 per cent in the services sector, 16.4 per cent in manufacturing and 5.1 per cent in construction. The differences show why a policy must suit the work being done.
Tasks can also be organised differently within a business. An accounting department, a sales team and a production operation need different forms of coordination and presence on site. A clear policy explains which tasks require a particular location and where there is flexibility.
How SMEs can assess their office attendance policy
Before making a change, it helps to take stock: Which tasks require machinery, customer contact or confidential documents on site? For which activities are shared office days useful? Where can handovers and availability be reliably organised using digital tools?
For suitable teams, a time-limited trial can provide clarity. Company leaders and managers agree in advance which collaboration should take place in the office and how the team will coordinate appointments and availability. Employee feedback, resignations and the time vacancies remain open can offer indications of the policy’s effects. Individual changes should be considered alongside other influences.
When planning costs, the list should include induction, vacant positions and equipment for different workplaces as well as potential departures. The amounts involved depend on the business and the role. A standard cost percentage cannot replace this calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Does an office mandate always lead to more resignations?
There is no general answer. The study of 54 large US companies found higher turnover on average after return-to-office mandates. The outcome may differ for individual businesses.
Do performance and promotions suffer under hybrid working?
In the Trip.com experiment, the researchers found no disadvantage from two days of home working per week in the performance reviews and promotions they examined. The finding cannot be applied to every role without further assessment.
How many employees work from home in Germany?
According to the ifo Institute, 24.9 per cent of employees worked at least partly from home in August 2026. The proportions vary considerably between sectors.
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Translated from the German original using artificial intelligence. The German version is authoritative.
