RTO Mandates Are No Longer Leading to 'Rage Quitting'

"Employees no longer demand the right to work from home, thanks to a shaky economy and job market. This growing lack of pushback on return to office orders is a sign workers recognize they're not in a position to make demands. At least, not if they want to keep their jobs."

"This is a stark departure from a year ago, when half of American workers said they'd quit their jobs before accepting RTO mandates, according to a survey by AI-powered resume builder MyPerfectResume. Today, only 7 percent of workers say they'd quit their jobs if management decided to make in-office work mandatory."

"Begrudgingly commuting to the office five days a week isn't the only concession employees are willing to make due to "economic anxiety," she said. Of the workers surveyed, 73 percent are expecting their employers to "expand surveillance tools in 2026." That includes everything from "keystroke tracking" to monitor productivity, to "badge-in monitoring" for taking attendance."

Survey results show a sharp shift in employee willingness to resist return-to-office mandates. A year ago about half of American workers said they'd quit rather than accept mandatory RTO; now only 7 percent say they would quit if forced to work in-office. Economic anxiety and a shaky job market have shifted power toward employers, who are reclaiming authority over where and how employees work. Most workers expect expanded surveillance tools in 2026, including keystroke tracking and badge-in monitoring. Compliance and performance on tracking software are seen as factors in promotions and pay, so job security now outweighs hybrid preferences.

Read at Inc