Quarter of Brits would turn down dream job if it meant going into office full-time

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Almost one-quarter of Brits would turn down the offer of their ‘dream job’ if it meant they had to go into the office full-time, new data has revealed.

In a new survey 23% of respondents said they would be unwilling to return to the office five days a week in exchange for their dream job. A further 14% were unsure if they would accept a dream job offer that required them to be in the office full-time.

The findings come as leaders at companies including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Twitter push for a full-time office return for their employees.

Women less likely than men to go into office full-time

The survey found that women (for whom research has shown remote working to be particularly beneficial) were less likely than men to forgo remote working for their dream job. Just over half of the women surveyed (59%) would be willing to go into the office five days a week. In contrast, 67% of men said they would go back to full-time office work in exchange for their dream role.

A higher number of men said that they would increase the number of days they went into the office if it was guaranteed to aid their career progression, with 60% willing to do so compared to 50% of women.

Millennials most willing to sacrifice remote working for dream role

Those at the earlier stages of their careers were the most willing to sacrifice remote working for their dream role, with 78% of respondents aged 25-34 saying they would go into the office five days a week for their ideal job. This was closely followed by those aged 35-44 and 18-24 year olds, despite recent research suggesting that younger generations prefer working remotely.

In contrast, fewer than half of those aged 55 and over were happy to make a full-time return to the office for their dream job, with only 45% willing to lose their flexible working. For those aged 45-54, this rose to 68%.

When asked if they would be willing to go into the office more often if they knew it would definitely aid their career progression, four-fifths of those aged 25-34 said yes. This was also true of two-thirds of those aged 18-24 and of those aged 35-44.

Comparatively, older age groups were less likely to be willing to go into the office more often to aid their career progression. Only one-third of those aged 55+ said they would do so, perhaps indicating progression being a lower priority compared to flexibility for those later in their careers.

Jon Dweck, CEO and co-founder of Space32, who commissioned the research, comments: “The fact that almost a quarter of British people would be unwilling to go into the office five days a week  – even if offered their dream job – is a striking indication that those pushing for a full-time office return are fighting a losing battle. It shows that flexible working options, whether hybrid or fully remote, remain a highly-valued, and often essential, asset. Employees should not have to sacrifice these to progress in their desired careers – and many are willing to vote with their feet.

“For younger generations in particular, who are at an earlier stage in their careers, going into the office full-time should not be a prerequisite for success. Employers must ditch this one-size-fits-all approach and acknowledge that employee attitudes have shifted. They must evolve their office policies accordingly and provide a more inclusive, flexible and accessible workplace for all.”