Original Article

According to Kastle Systems, 50% of employees are back at their desks on average, the highest since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The average office occupancy has reached 50.4% of pre-pandemic levels across the top 10 metropolitan areas in the country. In January 2023, all 10 cities tracked by the index had an average occupancy rate of at least 40% of pre-pandemic levels. According to data from Gallup, over 50% of jobs in the US that can be done remotely were hybrid by November 2022, up from 32% in January 2019. Some companies such as General Motors, Starbucks and Disney have announced plans to bring workers back to the office, while others have doubled down on flexible work. Companies like Ancestry.com have broadened their hiring capabilities by shifting from an office-focused approach. Some companies, such as Apple and JPMorgan, faced backlash for implementing strict return-to-office mandates. Consulting firm Ernst & Young have increased the number of employees coming back to work by 150% since last February by implementing a hybrid model and offering perks. Employee engagement has fallen to its lowest level in nearly a decade, with only 32% of workers feeling engaged at work, according to Gallup