'A new era of workplace sabotage': Employees really aren't happy with being forced back to the office - and many are starting to fight back

Date:
Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:05:00 +0000

Description:
Study claims the majority of workers now see RTO as a stealthy way to reduce headcount - and so the sabotage begins.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Workers are rebelling against RTO mandates more than ever Enhancv report find many employees see RTO as a path towards layoffs Younger workers are most at risk, many saying they feel unfairly targeted New research has claimed that "a new era of workplace sabotage" is seeing workers fight back against unfair policies, particularly when it comes to return to office (RTO) mandates.

The report from Enhancv found nearly three-quarters (72%) of workers suspect RTO as being a way to bring in stealth layoffs via attrition of those employees unwilling to compromise on their working arrangements. Nearly half (46%) of workers also admitted to "coffee badging" (swiping in and leaving early), a tactic which has become standard among those employees who suspect
a hidden corporate agenda. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video
here: "The Great Compliance" "Rather than fostering collaboration, strict return-to-office (RTO) mandates have given rise to The Great Compliancea phenomenon where workers show up physically to satisfy badge-trackers while mentally and strategically checking out," Enhancv noted.

Its study, which surveyed 1,000 full-time workers across the United States
who have been subject to new or stricter return-to-office (RTO) policies within the last 12 months, found a major deficit in trust among employees, especially as AI-related job cuts continue to hit the headlines. You may like Two-thirds of office workers admit to secretly using banned AI tools
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And while RTOs may often be explained as getting a workforce back under one set of policies and rules, the simple truth is that some workers simply won't be able to comply - whether it be for family reasons, or just the fact they moved elsewhere during the past few years.

Enhancv found over a quarter (27.8%) of interviewed employees had been able
to successfully negotiate a personal exception to RTO policies - creating a visible two-tier workforce, with those without any leverage may feel left out or unfairly targeted. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. This could be especially true for younger workers, and the survey found Gen Z (ages 1824) and younger Millennials reported the lowest trust in corporate motives, perhaps putting paid to the claim that RTO mandates are vital to training the next generation of workers, with average trust scores nearly 20 points lower than their Boomer counterparts.

The idea that we need to be present is asinine," one survey respondent noted. "Many come in just to socialize and then go home. No more work is getting
done here than at home.

Enhancv noted how, "by forcing a physical presence that this generation views as performative, companies may be solving a short-term real estate problem while creating a long-term retention crisis with the very talent they claim
to be developing." What to read next Workers are increasingly using
unapproved AI tools at work, despite knowing the risks Gen Z workers say they are far more productive at home Quote of the day by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: 'One of the tech industrys worst mistakes in a long time was that everybody could go full remote forever' closing the doors to pandemic-era flexibility

To add insult to injury for employers, the survey found over one in three employees are now using their time at the office to apply for new jobs or
even build side hustles as a financial safety net.

Over a third (36%) said they had applied for a new job while sitting at their current office desk, and a similar amount (36%) had started a side hustle since an RTO mandate had been announced, seeking "extra security" in an environment they no longer trust.

32% also admitted to intentionally reducing their daily output as a form of quiet protest.

"The irony for leadership is clear: the very desks they fought to fill are
now being used as staging grounds for the Great Exit," the report concludes. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/a-new-era-of-workplace-sabotage-employees-really -arent-happy-with-being-forced-back-to-the-office-and-many-are-starting-to-fig ht-back


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