Felicia, a 53-year-old administrator from Arizona, has decided to leave her job altogether rather than return to working in the office five days a week. Despite her six-figure salary, Felicia values her work-life balance more and believes that she doesn't need to be in the office to do her job effectively. However, as firms tighten their belts, the era of fully remote work is coming to an end, and many companies are mandating that workers come back in.
Some workers have had to choose between returning or being fired, but Felicia has decided to leave on her own terms. She preferred the hybrid model her office had, where she would work three days at home and two days in the office, which allowed for the perfect balance. Working remotely allowed her to focus without distractions, while in-office days were an opportunity to connect with colleagues.
But after just a month back at the office full-time, she turned in her resignation. Managers at her company had the perception that hybrid employees weren't working, but Felicia strongly disagreed. Several other colleagues have also left for roles with more remote or hybrid options, and Felicia is now seeking similar roles with better work-life balance, even if they pay less. She believes that inflexible return-to-office mandates could harm productivity and lead to an exodus of workers who want flexibility.