French workers aren’t interested in returning to office, survey finds

Now that French workers have adapted their homes and lifestyles to remote work, they are not happy about being asked to return to the office.

72 percent of French employees now have a suitable work environment and 83 percent feel they are able to effectively carry out their work remotely, according to a survey by the National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (Anact) published on July 1.

At the same time, 34 percent of employees say their work relationships have deteriorated since the beginning of the pandemic, while 43 percent are apprehensive about returning to the worksite.

They’ve also discovered the benefits of remote work: 82 percent of workers in the Ile-de-France region of the country, appreciate reduced commuting times, 64 percent have a quieter work environment, 55 percent have a lower level of fatigue and 8 percent find it a benefit to their health, the poll found.

Though some employers allow employees to choose when and where they want to work, others, such as the government, are imposing post-pandemic work plans, according to Le Monde columnist Anne Rodier,

Public service now allows only two days of teleworking per week and five floating days during the year, Rodier points out.

“I don’t understand why we are being asked to come back for nothing. I have practically worked 100 percent remotely for a year,” the columnist cites one public-service worker. “Why aren’t managers given the freedom to organize their team?”