A new study released by Enhancv, a leading global resume building platform, reveals a profound breach in the employer-employee social contract.

As corporations push for a return to physical offices, the data suggests that instead of fostering "serendipitous innovation", these mandates have triggered a new era of workplace sabotage and a total collapse in corporate loyalty. The study, which surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. employees who have experienced return-to-office mandates, found that the majority of workers no longer believe management’s "culture-building" narrative. Instead, they view these policies as a calculated financial move.

Key Findings from the RTO Stealth Layoff Study:

  • 72% of surveyed employees suspect RTO is a "stealth layoff" designed to drive voluntary attrition and reduce headcount without the cost of severance packages.
  • 46% of workers admit to "coffee badging" by swiping into the office just long enough to be seen before leaving to work from a location of their choice.
  • 36% of employees have applied for new jobs while sitting at their office desk, as workers increasingly use mandatory office time to plot their exit.
  • Trust scores drop to 50 out of 100 among strictly monitored employees, proving that aggressive badge-tracking backfires by destroying mission alignment.
  • 36% of workers have started a side hustle for extra security since their mandate was announced, seeking a financial safety net in a low-trust environment.
  • Gen Z trust scores are nearly 20 points lower than those of Boomers, highlighting a generational divide in which younger talent views RTO as purely performative.
  • 27.8% of employees have successfully negotiated personal exceptions, creating a visible two-tier workforce that fuels resentment among those forced to comply.

The sentiment among veteran workers is particularly stark. One respondent, an employee of 16 years, noted: “I would have to ask which they wanted more: butts in the office or productivity?

“For a very dedicated employee who has been there for 16 years, this was very much a slap in the face,” says Volen Vulkov, co-founder of Enhancv. 

“When 72% of your workforce believes a policy is a trap to make them quit, the 'culture' you are trying to build is already gone. What we are seeing is a shift from contribution to self-preservation. The office is no longer a hub for collaboration.

“For many, it’s now a staging ground for the Great Exit." Enhancv surveyed 1,000 full-time employees across the United States who have been subject to new or stricter return-to-office policies within the last 12 months.

The research was conducted via Pollfish using a double-opt-in, mobile-first methodology to ensure the highest level of candor and anonymity. Enhancv is a global AI Resume Builder that helps job seekers create modern, recruiter-approved resumes. By combining career data with user insights, Enhancv empowers professionals to navigate the modern job market with confidence.