Key Takeaways
- 82% of Indian employees show positive sentiment towards returning to office
- 60% prioritize flexibility when choosing employers
- 54% report moderate to high burnout levels
More than 8 in 10 Indian employees have expressed positive sentiment about returning to office (RTO) policies, according to the JLL Workplace Preference Barometer 2025 report released on Tuesday.
Strong RTO Adoption Across Sectors
The report reveals that 82% of Indian employees are currently under work-from-office mandates, with the majority showing positive reception. Technology companies, BSFI, and the education sector are leading this RTO adoption trend.
Indian corporates have achieved significant workplace excellence, with 83% of employees describing their work environment as close to ideal – substantially higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 64%.
Flexibility Emerges as Top Priority
JipuJose James, Managing Director, Project & Development Service (PDS), India, JLL commented: “This is a pivotal moment for Indian organisations. As hybrid work matures, we see 83 per cent of employees expressing positive sentiment towards return-to-office policies, underscoring the need for workplaces to be high on human-centred design. Talent attraction is also being reshaped with six in 10 now citing flexibility as their top priority when choosing a new employer.”
About 60% of employees cited flexibility as the primary factor when selecting new employers, outperforming the APAC average of 54%.
Burnout Concerns Persist
The research highlighted a growing wellbeing challenge, with 54% of employees experiencing moderate to elevated levels of burnout. This statistic represents millions of workers whose productivity, engagement, and loyalty are compromised by unsustainable work pressures.
Kamya Miglani, Head of Work Dynamics Research, Asia Pacific, JLL advised: “Employers that wish to attract and retain top performers must move beyond simply mandating office attendance. Instead, they should focus on creating workplaces that employees actively want to be part of, offering flexibility that genuinely improves quality of life, addressing burnout through sustainable work practices, and investing in inclusive, future-focused skills development.”
