The Most Wanted Workplace Benefit—And Why Some Companies Are Cutting It

After a good salary, what do employees value most? For 65% of workers, it’s workplace flexibility—control over when and where they work. This insight, revealed in a recent Conference Board survey presented at the People 2030: Our Talent, Our Future conference, underscores the growing importance of flexibility in shaping the modern workforce.

The survey of 1,500 employees ranked workplace flexibility as the top desired perk, followed closely by incentive pay (64%), generous paid time off, retirement plans, and flexible, affordable health plans.

Flexibility Under Fire

Despite its popularity, workplace flexibility is facing challenges. Last month, Amazon announced it will eliminate its hybrid work policy and require employees to return to the office five days a week starting next year. The decision sparked backlash from employees and raised concerns about whether other companies would follow suit.

While organizations like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase have already adopted strict return-to-office (RTO) policies, 3M recently added its own mandate, requiring managers to work onsite at least three days a week.

What the Numbers Say

Despite high-profile examples of stricter RTO policies, the Conference Board found that a majority of companies—56%—still operate with hybrid or fully remote models. Only 44% require employees to be onsite full-time.

This divide highlights a key tension in the workplace: employees’ desire for flexibility versus employers’ push to centralize operations. As hybrid and remote work models remain the preferred option for many, organizations must weigh the risks of limiting flexibility against the potential impact on talent retention and engagement.