It’s no secret that when it comes to returning to the office, many workers are putting up a fight or quitting altogether — including those in charge.
According to a new Marcum-Hofstra Mid-Market CEO Survey, about 48% of CEOs are back in the office five days a week, while 32% are in the office three days a week or less. Ten percent of CEOs are working remotely a full five days a week.
“Whether it is COVID concerns or the impact of inflation and gas prices, it seems clear that remote work, and a hybrid schedule, in particular, is the sweet spot for many CEOs and businesses,” said K.G. Viswanathan, interim dean of the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, in a statement.
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The pandemic changed the way we think about work, and returning to pre-pandemic ways might not be so simple. While some companies are urging workers to return to the office in a desperate attempt to “return to normal,” others are rethinking the concept of work altogether and prioritizing wellbeing over career advancement.
Andrew Formica, a 51-year-old chief executive at Jupiter Fund Management, announced he’d be stepping down from his position at a $68 billion asset management fund after three years on the job and a lifelong career in finance.
“I just want to go sit at the beach and do nothing,” he told Bloomberg.
And Formica is not alone. CNN reports that nearly 70% of executives surveyed by Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence are “seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being,” with 81% also saying that improving their well-being is now more important than advancing at work.
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Whether it’s due to a shift in priorities or the rising cost of living, “returning to normal” may be a concept that never happens.
“The specific reasons may change over time, but I believe this reflects a fundamental change in how Americans view work in the broader context of their lives,” Viswanathan said.
