Indian Employees Embrace Office Return While Battling Burnout: 83% Support RTO Policies Despite Wellness Concerns

Mumbai:

A recent study reveals that over 80% of Indian professionals have shown positive attitudes towards returning to office environments, despite significant concerns about workplace flexibility and employee well-being.

According to the JLL Workplace Preference Barometer 2025 report, 82% of employees in India are now subject to work-from-office mandates, with a strong majority (8 in 10) expressing favorable views about these return-to-office (RTO) policies.

The technology sector, banking and financial services (BFSI), and education institutions are leading the implementation of these RTO strategies across the country.

Indian companies appear to have established exceptional workplace environments, with an impressive 83% of workers describing their office settings as nearly ideal – substantially higher than the Asia-Pacific regional average of 64%.

"We're witnessing a defining moment for Indian organizations," noted JipuJose James, Managing Director of Project & Development Service (PDS) at JLL India. "As hybrid work models mature, 83% of employees are showing positive reactions to return-to-office policies, highlighting the importance of human-centered workplace design. Additionally, recruitment dynamics are evolving with six out of ten professionals now prioritizing flexibility when considering new employment opportunities."

The report indicates that approximately 60% of employees consider workplace flexibility as their primary consideration when evaluating potential employers, exceeding the Asia-Pacific average of 54%.

However, the research also uncovered concerning wellness issues, with 54% of employees reporting moderate to high levels of burnout.

This statistic represents a substantial portion of the workforce whose productivity, engagement, and company loyalty are being undermined by excessive work pressures and insufficient support mechanisms.

These dual challenges – burnout affecting more than half of employees and flexibility driving 60% of employment decisions – create significant obstacles that simultaneously threaten organizational performance and talent retention.

Kamya Miglani, Head of Work Dynamics Research for Asia Pacific at JLL, emphasized: "Employers seeking to attract and retain top talent must go beyond simply requiring office attendance. They should instead focus on creating workplaces where employees genuinely want to be present, offering meaningful flexibility that enhances quality of life, addressing burnout through sustainable work practices, and investing in inclusive, forward-looking skills development."