"One year ago, 51% of workers said they'd quit rather than accept a non-negotiable return-to-office order. Today, that number has plunged to just 7%. The reversal points to what MyPerfectResume calls "The Great Compliance"-a shift in workplace power dynamics that's redefining where and how work happens in 2026, driven in part by the rise of "hybrid creep." Hybrid creep works by replacing rigid RTO mandates and ultimatums with something far more subtle."
"What started as "come in when it makes sense" evolved into "Tuesdays and Thursdays are team days," which then became "let's add Wednesdays for client meetings." Before long, the nominal two-day office schedule has crept up to three or four days. According to the Owl Labs State of Hybrid Work report, the data backs this up. Among hybrid employees, 34% now go into the office four days a week, up from 32% in 2024 and just 23% in 2023."
Hybrid creep describes subtle, incremental workplace changes that normalize increased office attendance without formal mandates. Employers expand anchor days gradually, turning flexible schedules into multiple required team or client days. Data shows hybrid attendance rising: 34% of hybrid employees now go into the office four days weekly, up from 23% in 2023, while only 22% attend one or two days. Employers also cultivate a presence premium by linking visibility to assignments and promotions, creating incentives to be onsite. These tactics shift workplace power dynamics and make returning to the office more likely without overt mandates.
Read at Forbes
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