Remote work options remain a key factor for Australian employees, with more than a third (39%) prepared to resign or turn down a job offer that does not include flexibility in the workplace, according to a survey by recruitment firm Robert Half.

The survey, which polled 1,000 full-time office workers across the country, found that flexible work hours are also a significant reason for many workers to remain in their jobs.

A minority of respondents (21%) said they wanted the option to work in the office at least some of the time but would turn down a job or quit if it was not offered.

However, workplace flexibility would not impact the decision of 36% of Australian workers to turn down a job offer or 37% of employees to leave a company, Robert Half said.

“Employees have experienced the benefits of remote work firsthand, with many reluctant to give them up,” Nicole Gorton, a director at Robert Half, said in a press release on 25 September.

“To ensure top talent don’t leave an organisation for this reason, companies should aim to strike a balance where workers still feel a level of autonomy and an in-office work environment that sparks enthusiasm, not dismay.”

Globally, companies have been struggling to restore pre-pandemic office attendance levels, and the number of days they mandate their staff to work in the office is on the rise despite resistance from employees wanting to retain a work-life balance and reduce the financial burden of commuting and childcare.

In Australia, 39% of workers are expected to be in the office full time this year, up from 19% in 2023, according to Robert Half data. However, 78% of workers state remote work plays an important role in their overall job satisfaction, and just 22% say it is not important.

Remote work is far more important for the job satisfaction of Gen Z (84%), Generation X (80%) and millennial (79%) employees than baby boomers (71%), who have spent most of their working lives in the office, the data found.

Robert Half said employers willing to pay a salary premium to lure workers back to the office may have some success, with 44% of survey respondents saying they would be willing to return to the office full time if they were offered a higher wage to give up the comforts of working from home.  

A minority of employees (9%) would accept a salary premium of more than 20%, while 16% said they would accept a boost of between 11% and 20%, and 18% of respondents would accept a 1% to 10% premium.

However, 17% of employees said they would not need a salary premium to return to the office full time. Meanwhile, 15% of workers would not be willing to return to the office full time, even if they were offered a salary premium. The remaining 25% of workers say they have returned to the office full time.

“Employers need to be creative and adaptable in their approach to work arrangements. Depending on the industry and business operations, a hybrid model that combines in-office collaboration with remote flexibility can be a win-win solution for both parties,” Gorton said.