PM Modi Appealed for WFH, But Most Companies Hold Their Ground: Report

A month after PM Modi urged organizations to consider work-from-home arrangements and virtual meetings to help conserve fuel, most employers across industries appear to have maintained their existing workplace policies, according to a recent survey.

The Prime Minister’s appeal sparked discussions around remote work, employee flexibility, and sustainability. However, survey findings suggest that the message has not translated into significant changes in workplace practices across corporate India.

Survey Highlights

A survey of 190 professionals across industries found that the vast majority of organizations have not altered their work models since the appeal. The findings revealed:

170 respondents (89%) reported no change in their company’s work policy.
10 respondents (5%) said their organizations increased the number of work-from-home days within existing hybrid work arrangements.
10 respondents (5%) reported that their companies had adopted a fully remote work model.

The results indicate that while the appeal generated considerable discussion, most employers continue to follow existing workplace strategies.

Hybrid Work Continues to Dominate

Over the past few years, organizations have largely settled into post-pandemic work models that balance flexibility with business requirements.

Hybrid work has emerged as the preferred approach for many employers, allowing employees to split time between home and office while maintaining collaboration and operational efficiency.

Many organizations have invested heavily in office infrastructure and workplace programs designed to support in-person collaboration. As a result, employers appear reluctant to make significant policy changes based on short-term external developments.

At the same time, business leaders continue to emphasize the importance of face-to-face interactions for teamwork, innovation, learning, and organizational culture.

Employees Still Seek Greater Flexibility

While workplace policies remain largely unchanged, employees continue to value flexibility. Reduced commuting time, lower travel costs, and improved work-life balance remain among the most frequently cited benefits of remote work.

For many professionals, the Prime Minister’s appeal renewed hopes that organizations might revisit attendance requirements or expand hybrid work options. However, the survey suggests that most companies have chosen to maintain their current approach.

Industry observers note that workplace decisions today are increasingly influenced by productivity goals, customer expectations, operational requirements, and talent strategies rather than temporary external factors.

No Major Shift Yet

The survey findings suggest that employers view their existing work models as effective and sustainable. Rather than moving toward full remote work, organizations appear focused on refining current arrangements and providing flexibility where business needs allow.

Although a small percentage of respondents reported increased work-from-home opportunities or a shift to fully remote work, these changes remain the exception rather than the norm.

Conclusion

One month after the work-from-home appeal by PM Modi, the overall sentiment across industries remains largely unchanged.

Nearly nine out of ten respondents reported no changes to workplace policies, indicating that most employers continue to prioritize established hybrid and office-based models.

While the conversation around flexibility remains active, a broad shift toward work-from-home has yet to materialize across corporate India.

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