Office Revival: Employees Finally Breaking Up With Remote Work for Good

NEW YORK — Most Americans are ditching the remote and hybrid lifestyle and are back in the office for good this year. The workplace pendulum is swinging back toward traditional office settings after years of pandemic-driven remote work experiments.

A new Newsweek survey, conducted by Talker Research, shows 57% of working Americans now plan to work fully in-office this year. This marks a significant shift from recent years when millions transformed home spaces into makeshift workstations.

The Great Workplace Divide

Despite this office comeback, working from home isn’t disappearing. About one-quarter of workers still plan to work fully remotely, while 18% will split their time between office and home settings.

The research reveals telling differences between generations. Gen Z workers show the strongest preference for home-based work, with 28% wanting fully remote arrangements. By contrast, baby boomers emerge as the biggest office enthusiasts, with 63% preferring full-time office work.

Looking at middle generations, both millennials and Gen Z report similar work-from-home plans for 2025 (55% each). Additionally, 19% of millennials and 16% of Gen Z expect to follow hybrid schedules with some office time.

Employment Landscape Insights

The survey also mapped broader employment patterns, finding 70% of working Americans hold full-time jobs. Among the remaining 30%, more work part-time (17%) than identify as self-employed (13%). Men are more likely than women to work full-time (76% versus 64%).

Age breakdowns show millennials leading in full-time employment (77%), followed by Gen X (70%), Gen Z (69%), and baby boomers (55%) – reflecting both career stage differences and shifting attitudes toward work structures.

Expert Perspective: Flexibility is Key

Workplace expert Tamanna Ramesh, founder of Spark Careers, told Newsweek that the best workplaces in 2025 will be defined by “flexibility and adaptability.” She emphasized that employers must recognize the diverse needs of their workforce and implement tailored approaches to maximize productivity and satisfaction.

“Gen Z and the silent generation favor remote work, but for different reasons,” Ramesh said. “Younger workers value flexibility and work-life integration, while older workers appreciate reduced commutes and comfort. This highlights the need for customized workplace policies over one-size-fits-all approaches.”

Ramesh warns that inflexible workplace policies risk driving away talent, especially among younger employees who’ve grown used to flexibility. “Conversely, organizations embracing hybrid or remote-first models are better positioned to attract and retain top talent,” Ramesh said.

The Future of Work: Balance Not Extremes

This shift doesn’t signal a complete return to pre-pandemic patterns. Offices provide face-to-face interaction and culture-building opportunities that many companies and workers still value. Meanwhile, the significant number of workers continuing with remote or hybrid arrangements points to lasting changes in workplace flexibility.

The varied preferences across age groups create opportunities for employers who can offer tailored work arrangements. Companies that understand what motivates different generations—whether flexibility for younger workers or familiar office routines for older employees—will likely develop more effective retention strategies.

For workers, this evolving landscape means expanded opportunities to find employment that aligns with personal preferences, whether in traditional offices, remote settings, or something in between.