If employers won't offer flexible work options, employees will quickly look to alternative companies that will.

As companies continue to implement return-to-the-office mandates, US workers are making it known they won't hesitate to look elsewhere if current or prospective employers are not flexible and transparent. That's according to Greenhouse's 2023 Candidate Experience Report, which found that 76 percent of the 1,200 respondents would actively search for a new job if their company reversed course on flexible policies.

The call for transparency and flexibility isn't just coming from companies' existing employees. The Candidate Experience Report also reveals that 42 percent of candidates will forgo applying for a role if it doesn't fit their preferences. Forty percent of US workers prefer to work in a hybrid model and 12 percent prefer to work remotely full time.

"The report findings validate that the changes to how and where we work over the last three years are not temporary adjustments due to a global pandemic—hybrid is here to stay," says Greenhouse Chief People Officer Donald Knight. "Flexibility, fairness, and pay transparency instill trust in a company."

Some companies have taken note, allowing workers to remain fully remote. Atlassian has continued to allow its more than 11,000 employees to work from home. The same goes for Airbnb and its 6,000 employees.

On the other side of the coin, companies such as Meta and Amazon are requiring employees to return to the office. Other companies that initially supported a remote or hybrid model, such as Zoom and Salesforce, now require workers to adapt to a hybrid environment.

Greenhouse's research suggests those organizations may regret mandating a return to the office.

"Leaders that haven't been listening to candidates and employees in recent years will be forced to realize that work has undergone a massive shift, and they can either adapt to this new world or lose out on top talent, and ultimately, business success," Knight explains.

According to the study, flexible work policies are the fourth-biggest reason workers consider a new job after increased pay, better job security, and better career advancement opportunities.