President Trump’s recent mandate requiring federal workers return to the office has sparked considerable debate among U.S. workers.

A new survey reveals 51 percent of workers would quit if faced with a similar non-negotiable return-to-work mandate, according to MyPerfectResume.

The Remote Work Divide report indicates that employees are pushing back against rigid return-to-office (RTO) demands.

Another 40 percent claimed they would immediately start searching for a remote job, while 9 percent said they would return without issue, highlighting a growing clash between employee preferences and employer demands.

“The nationwide survey of 1,044 U.S. workers highlights shifting workplace priorities, driven by lingering pandemic impacts and the rise of flexible work arrangements, as employees increasingly prioritize flexibility, autonomy and well-being over traditional office requirements,” the report stated.

More than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) support remote or hybrid options for federal employees, with less than 1 in 4 (23 percent) saying federal workers need to be on-site full-time.

Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents prefer fully remote work, 33 percent favor a hybrid model, while just 22 percent opt for on-site full-time roles.

Of the those surveyed, 39 percent report being most productive when working remotely, compared to just 25 percent who feel most productive on-site.

A majority of employees say flexible work options improve their mental health (68 percent), with 36 percent favoring fully remote and 32 percent preferring hybrid work.

Workers offered several theories for why employers are insisting on RTO policies:

• 51 percent think companies aim to boost productivity.
• 50 percent believe it’s about control over employees.
• 37 percent stated that they believe companies enforce return-to-office (RTO) policies because they don’t trust employees to work remotely.
• 37 percent believe companies want to justify office real estate costs.
• Only 5 percent think it’s about improving company culture, showing a disconnect between employer narratives and employee perceptions.

Workers emphasized flexibility and choice when it came to their ideal work environments, with 78 percent preferring flexible arrangements such as fully remote or hybrid setups.

Of those surveyed:

• 45 percent prefer fully remote work.
• 33 percent prefer a hybrid setup.
• 22 percent prefer working fully on-site.

When it comes to job satisfaction, 71 percent of respondents report the highest job satisfaction when given the ability to work remote or hybrid, 34 percent say job satisfaction is highest with full-time remote work and 37 percent thrive in a hybrid setup.

The survey reveals significant insights into how work environments affect productivity and mental well-being.

More than half of respondents (54 percent) find remote/hybrid collaboration more effective than in-office, while 73 percent of workers find they are most productive outside a traditional office setting.

Another 39 percent said they thrive in a fully remote work environment, while 34 percent do in a hybrid setup.

A majority (75 percent) report being more creative working remotely.

The return-to-office trend creates challenges at home, the report found.

Among those whose partners returned to the office:

• 40 percent reported taking on more responsibilities at home due to their partner’s absence.
• 36 percent faced challenges managing childcare or eldercare, signaling the broader implications of RTO policies on families.
• 40 percent report increased responsibilities at home.
• 29 percent experience increased relationship stress.