Report: 39% of employers will dismiss workers who refuse to return to the office

We are on the brink of a dramatic workplace showdown.

On one side of the conflict, you have bosses, bigwigs, company execs and (micro)managers who are eager to get everyone back into the office ASAP. On the other side are workers—many of whom have come to depend on the freedom and flexibility afforded by remote work and would sooner quit than return to the daily grind.

Is there a compromise to be struck, or will companies simply choose to replace those who are unwilling to get back to office life?

A survey from Digital.com, an independent review website for small business online tools, products and services, reveals how American companies plan to proceed in a post-pandemic workplace. The survey garnered responses from 1,500 small business owners, who shared about their remote work experience during the pandemic and plans for resuming in-person work.

The research surfaced some startling takeaways—not least of which is that 4 in 10 employers plan to fire workers who won’t return to the workplace full-time in the coming months. Almost half of the survey respondents said most job functions at their company require in-person attendance, and 45% expressed concerns about a sharp dip in employee productivity while working remotely.