More than half of millennials would quit if asked to return to the office full-time

It seemed like an impossibility, but if there is one thing baby boomers and Gen Z actually agree upon, it’s remote work. 

According to a new survey conducted by flexible workspace provider IWG, it appears that generational divides melt away when it comes to working from home. Fifty-three percent of millennials answered that they would look for new job opportunities if their employer asked them to return to in-person work. Thirty-three percent of boomers and 40% of Gen-Zers agreed with this sentiment. Millennials (53%) and Gen-Zers (46%) even feel a raise would be necessary to get them back to a desk.   

“The study highlights that there are important generational differences and one size doesn’t fit all; rather, there are many different flavors of hybrid working and the needs of employees will differ according to where they are in their careers and personal lives,” Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of IWG, said in a release. 

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The survey found that remote work is positively correlated with employee wellness – not surprising to those who can simply roll out of bed and sign on to a meeting. In fact, boomers ranked the highest at finding a connection between the two at 78%, followed by millenials (75%) and Gen-Xers (73%). “Giving employees ownership of their daily schedules is extremely meaningful to promoting a work-life balance,” said an IWG spokesperson.

Zero commute time is another benefit of hybrid work. And while boomers and Gen X employees most appreciate the cost-savings that come with no commute, millennials are thankful for the stress reduction it brings. 

“The millennial generation is known to be very family and friend oriented so allowing them to get time back when they normally would be commuting to focus on family and friends improves employee wellness,” said an IWG spokesperson. 

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Contrary to those concerned about proximity bias, or the idea that those physically in the office will have increased opportunities for advancement, 73% of millennials and 50% of Gen-Z employees said their career growth has benefitted from working in a hybrid environment. In addition, 93% of remote workers agree that going to the office daily is not required to form strong relationships, with boomers leading the pack 68%. This is expected considering they are likely to be more established than younger generations. 

“In-person interaction is certainly needed to drive bonds, said an IWG spokesperson, “but this is not essential every day.”