Core Insights - The ongoing debate between in-office work and remote work is shifting towards the concept of time autonomy, focusing on when employees work rather than where they work [2][5]. Group 1: Employee Preferences - Work-life balance has become the top priority for 65% of office workers globally, an increase from 59% four years ago [3]. - Employees are increasingly valuing control over their work schedules, including start and stop times, over the choice of workplace location [4]. Group 2: Industry Trends - A significant 83% of CEOs globally expect a return to full-time office work by 2027, while 30% of companies plan to eliminate remote work by 2026 [2]. - The rise in workload intensity and meeting volume has made time management and calendar control essential for improving employee effectiveness and well-being [5]. Group 3: Leadership Perspectives - Leaders are beginning to recognize that flexibility in work arrangements has evolved beyond location to include time autonomy, which reflects real-life demands such as caregiving and health routines [5][6]. - The focus on time autonomy indicates a shift towards a work environment that prioritizes cognitive output over physical presence, suggesting that control over time is more critical than merely having a desk [7].

Group 1 - Business leaders are facing challenges such as rising geopolitical risks, economic uncertainty, and disruptions from artificial intelligence, making it harder to conduct business [3] - CFO turnover reached a seven-year high in the first half of 2025, driven by increased retirement rates and high CEO turnover from the previous year [4] - Over a third of C-suite professionals are actively seeking new roles, with work-life balance being the primary reason for their desire to leave [5] Group 2 - Nearly 40% of C-suite leaders have considered leaving their roles in the past year, with half of that group contemplating it "very often" [6] - The motivations for considering exit from current roles are more complex than just compensation, with human factors such as burnout and stress playing significant roles [6]