Have Charlotte workers opted to go back to the office? Here’s what you told us.
Many Charlotte office workers have been offered the option to return to in-person work during the pandemic — but the majority are still opting to stay home, according to a recent informal Observer survey.
Last week, the Observer asked readers if they had the choice of going back to the office and, if they did, what their preference has been: commuting to their cubicle or continuing to work from home.
Of 571 respondents, 43% or 239 said their employer had given them the option to return to the office during COVID-19. That compares to 31% who said their company was still working remotely and 26% who said they’d been required to go back to the office.
Respondents to the survey came from a variety of industries, with the greatest number working in banking and financial services. Others were spread across sectors like energy, tech, government and healthcare.
But of those who have a choice between their home or the office, the majority — 72% — are opting for the former either full or part-time: 39% or 213 respondents said that they’re still choosing to work from home. Another 33% of respondents said they’re working from the office at least some of the time.
It’s not just COVID safety driving their decision.
Of those employees still working from home, 44% said they prefer working from home for reasons like convenience or flexibility. By contrast, only 25% picked the continuing coronavirus pandemic as their primary concern.
That mirrors what workers told Observer reporters late last summer, when many local employers planned a broad return to office before the rapid spread of the delta variant.
Though some workers said they missed office amenities or chatting with coworkers, many said they’ve preferred the no-commute comforts of working from home: setting their own schedule, attending meetings in pajamas and getting more done without distractions.
A return to work rewind
As many office workers near the two-year anniversary of their pivot to remote work, a new COVID case surge caused by the rapid spread of the omicron variant is once again leading local firms to reconsider their plans.
Bank of America was one of the city’s first large employers to formally invite vaccinated workers back to its offices in July. But last week, it asked employees to stay home as infections increased.
Wells Fargo, which employs about 27,000 in the region, pushed back its broad return to in-person work over the holidays. It was the bank’s fourth time postponing plans.
Even small businesses in Charlotte have struggled to keep their facilities open.
Local shops like Lunchbox Records, NoDa Bodega and Oak Steakhouse have temporarily shuttered amid the new wave, as staff members tested positive or were exposed to the virus.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 12:17 PM.
