A recent report reveals that 74% of Australian employers believe office attendance significantly impacts promotion prospects, sparking intense nationwide debate. As companies increasingly reverse remote and hybrid work policies in favor of return-to-office (RTO) mandates, many are using promotion opportunities as incentives to encourage in-office presence.
While some employees support the idea, arguing that in-person collaboration fosters leadership development, others criticize it as coercive and unfair. Critics argue that promotions should be based on performance, not location, and highlight the financial and time costs of commuting.
Some workers say they value work-life balance over promotions and would prefer to continue working remotely. Globally, similar sentiments are reflected in countries like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
Despite this trend, surveys suggest that a significant number of workers, including 17% in Australia, would forgo promotions rather than abandon remote work. Experts warn that rigid RTO policies could trigger employee dissatisfaction and attrition, especially in a tight labor market, as seen in recent Randstad research showing over half of white-collar Australians view work-from-home as a fundamental right.
