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Return-to-office drives will encounter "intense headwinds" if they're perceived as more employer-friendly than employee-friendly, according to academics with advice for organisations' policies, messaging and implementation.

In their recently-published study on return-to-office perceptions, a research team led by US-based Dr Matthew Perrigino say employees value their autonomy, and largely see RTO mandates as a threat to it.

Estimates suggest up to 94% of employees need to be "convinced" to return, the researchers say, so their resistance is unsurprising.

However, they suggest that to bring workers back, employers should focus on quality of work life (QWL) factors – defined as the ways in which organisations enhance the physical and psychosocial features of the workplace – as these can function as a "substitute" for autonomy over where work occurs and generate more positive attitudes.

They note that RTO policies vary in the degree to which they factor in employees' preferences, needs, interests and wellbeing, and those that are "employee-friendly" are more likely to achieve buy-in...