Two-and-a-half years after the pandemic shuttered office buildings, some major companies are finally ready to return. Apple, Peloton and others are now asking employees to come back to the office at least a few days a week, starting after Labor Day. But they're still getting pushback from some employees, who want to be able to work from home indefinitely. So far, the companies are holding their ground, which could lead to a showdown.
The return to the office has been among the slowest recoveries from the pandemic---earlier this year, office buildings were still only at one-third of pre-pandemic capacity. But after several starts and stops, and failed attempts cut short by new COVID variants or employee backlash, many companies have grown frustrated with all-remote work. "We even have now what's called 'quiet quitting,' where some employees are staying at home and not even doing much work," says Vance Ginn, economist with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. "So I think that is an incentive for some of these businesses to say you know what, why don't you come back to the office more."
While some level of remote work is likely here to stay, most employees are going to have to accept leaving the house if they want to keep their job. "For workers, at the same time they want the flexibility to stay home, there's got to be some flexibility to work from the office," says Ginn.
"If you're doing your work, then you can get more flexibility---that may be the ultimate solution here," he continues. "Because at the end of the day, there has to be productivity and profitability in order to stay in business."
Ginn believes this all could end up leading to another Great Resignation and a reset of the labor market. "It may be that these workers need to go work somewhere else, ultimately," he tells KTRH. "And then Apple and other companies can fill those jobs with people who do want to be in the office."
Photo: Stone RF