Will any fully remote work policies be left in place? Activision Blizzard announced that it would be joining the ranks of tech companies that are getting rid of their fully remote work policy, replacing it with a hybrid model.
The tech industry is going through a bit of a rough patch lately. Between massive tech layoffs and other cost cutting measures, you'd think saving a bit of money with a fully remote work policy would be the answer.
For some reason, though, companies across the industry are pushing a return to work, and Activision Blizzard just announced that it would be doing the same.
Activision Blizzard Employees Must Return to Office in April
Activision Blizzard announced this week that it would be sunsetting its fully remote work policy, demanding that employees work in the office at least three days a week. Activision Publishing employees will be forced to return by April 10th, while Blizzard Entertainment employees have until July 10th to get their commute in order.
“We look forward to the increased real-time, in-person collaboration, and opportunities this change will foster.” – an Activision Blizzard spokesperson
While upper management may be excited about the change, employees are likely not on the same page. In fact, one alleged Blizzard Entertainment employee noted in a Twitter thread that most employees “have no interest in returning to office either full or part time.”
“Leadership isn't prepared for what is likely to happen — an exodus of talent as we find work elsewhere.”
While employees may push back, with some likely leaving the company, Activision Blizzard joins a long list of companies that are ditching remote work policies and forcing workers back to the office. So, the real question remains, is that a good idea for business?
Should My Business Ditch Our Fully Remote Work Policy?
With all these big, successful companies demanding employees return to the office, it's safe to wonder if your business should follow suit. After all, if Disney and Twitter are doing it, why wouldn't you?
While it may seem like right move given recent trends, the data on working from home tells a very different story. For one, the alleged Blizzard Entertainment employee is right in their Twitter thread; employees across the board do not want to return to the office. In a recent study, 97% of employees noted that they don't want to return to the office full time, with 51% saying that they would outright quit if asked to give up their remote work model.
If retaining top talent isn't important to you, what about productivity? Research shows that the average business experiences a 22% performance boost when installing a remote work policy, which makes it kind of a no-brainer for decision makers.
