A third of all Japanese companies want their employees back at the office

According to a recent survey by the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), thirty-two per cent of large companies in Japan want all employees back in the office. The results spotlight the firms' true stance after COVID-19 was downgraded to the same level as seasonal influenza under Japan's infectious disease control law in May.

Asked about ideal rates of employees coming into the office, 32% said "100%," a jump from the 24% who answered the same last fiscal year. Fifteen per cent said they wanted 90% of workers showing up, compared to 11% in fiscal 2022, while 20% of the companies wanted 80% of employees coming into work, up 2 points from fiscal 2022. In contrast, the rates of companies that answered they wanted 10-70% of workers back in the office dropped in all response percentage brackets. Meanwhile, companies that responded "0%," referring to complete remote work for all workers, accounted only for 1% in fiscal 2022, and this dropped to zero in the latest survey.

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At the same time, asked about efforts to secure workers -- with multiple answers permitted -- 14% of companies picked "expanding remote working," suggesting they are desperate to hire and keep workers by promoting themselves as flexible workplace, even if that meant they have to hide their true wish for employees to show up to the office.