A new study from resume platform Enhancv suggests that a majority of U.S. employees are deeply suspicious of return-to-office mandates, with 72% believing the policies are a tactic to get workers to quit voluntarily.

Why it matters: The findings point to a significant breakdown in trust between employers and employees. Instead of fostering collaboration and culture as intended, RTO mandates appear to be driving quiet resistance, disengagement, and a search for new jobs.

By the numbers: The survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees subject to RTO policies found a workforce in self-preservation mode.

  • 46% of workers admit to "coffee badging"—swiping into the office to be seen before leaving to work elsewhere.
  • 36% say they have applied for new jobs while at their office desk.
  • 36% have started a side hustle for extra financial security since their RTO mandate was announced.
  • Employee trust scores drop to 50 out of 100 when companies use strict badge-tracking to monitor attendance.

The big picture: The data suggests that for many workers, the office is no longer seen as a hub for collaboration but as a performative space. This sentiment is fueling a disconnect where management's stated goals of culture-building are perceived by employees as a cost-cutting measure disguised as policy.

  • The study also notes a generational divide, with Gen Z's trust scores nearly 20 points lower than those of Boomers.
  • Adding to the tension, 27.8% of employees have successfully negotiated personal exceptions to RTO rules, creating what the report calls a "two-tier workforce" that can fuel resentment.

What they're saying: "When 72% of your workforce believes a policy is a trap to make them quit, the 'culture' you are trying to build is already gone," said Volen Vulkov, co-founder of Enhancv. "What we are seeing is a shift from contribution to self-preservation. For many, it's now a staging ground for the Great Exit."

SOURCE: Enhancv

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