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Younger employees more willing to return to the office, Epassi UK finds

New research from Epassi UK shows employees under 30 are the most willing to work from the office, despite wider concerns about mandated returns.

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Employees under 30 are more likely to embrace office working than their older colleagues, according to new research from Epassi UK.

The company’s Employee Benefits Report 2025 found that 29% of employers say under 30s are the least likely to have an issue with returning to the office, while 20% say younger employees come into the office more frequently than required.

Hybrid working remains one of the most desired workplace benefits, with 86% of employees saying it is what they value most as it makes them happier and more productive.

Three quarters of workers report doing more work from home because they avoid commuting time, and ONS data shows 9.5 million people in the UK were hybrid working earlier this year.

Despite this, employers across a number of sectors are tightening flexible working rules.

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While 87% of employers currently allow home working, 27% have changed their policies in the past year to require more time in the office.

A further 22% plan to adjust their flexible working policies in the future, and 18% believe full-time office working will be the norm again by 2030.

Only half of employers believe staff are more productive when working remotely some of the time.

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More than half of employees feel their employer has changed its stance on home working in the past year, rising to 59% among younger workers.

Just over half believe their employer now favours those who come into the office more often.

A fifth of businesses admit that increasing office attendance requirements has already led to employees quitting, and 70% of workers say they would consider leaving their job for one offering hybrid working if their employer changed its current policy.

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Matt Russell, CEO at Epassi UK and Zest, said: “Offering employees flexibility is key – mandating a full return to the office can risk a mass loss of talent whereas fully remote options remain unpopular with younger employees who crave the social and professional development opportunities that office life can offer.

“Gen Z employees are often assumed to be the ones pushing back against a return to the office – our research shows that the reverse is more likely, with millennial and Gen X employees keen to minimise in-person attendance as they face childcare costs, may have moved further out or have invested in home offices during the pandemic.

“Keeping the balance of hybrid work alongside other in-demand benefits is vital for businesses that want to create a happier, more productive workforce and retain the best talent.”

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Epassi UK, which recently acquired employee benefits platform Zest, said the findings underline the need for employers to balance flexibility with the practical needs of younger employees who continue to value office-based interaction and development.

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