How Do Workers Feel About Hybrid Working?
A recent study has been published which provides analysis on the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid working for workers.
Change Is Afoot
The study found that 64% of the workers believe the pandemic has changed office culture forever. 82% of respondents intend to spend at least one day a week working from home in the future, with 54% planning to split their time evenly between the office and home. Employees now have greater autonomy over when they do their work ('anytime working') with over two third of employees (69%) saying the 9-5 has been replaced by anytime working.
Benefits of Working From Home
When asked about the benefits of working from home, the top three responses given were:
- avoiding lengthy commutes
- achieving a better work-life balance
- feeling less stressed
When asked what they would miss about working from home the top three responses all related to the additional time available to employees, namely through:
- lie ins
- time with family
- finishing on time
Drawbacks of Working From Home
The report found that working from home wasn't all positive, and that 58% of workers felt the rise in remote working meant they were 'always on' and always available. This left them feeling unable to relax or switch off from work. Additionally, some workers have felt side-lined and disconnected. For example, 52% think hybrid or home workers could be discriminated against or treated differently to employees in the office full-time. Equally, people are feeling anxious about the return to the office, with 42% admitting they will be prone to 'noise rage' if colleagues are too loud.
For younger workers (classified for the purposes of this study as 16-24 year olds), many of whom entered the workforce during the pandemic, two fifths reported that they have not been to their new office, 72% say the idea of going in is keeping them up at night. Over half of those interviewed were concerned that working remotely would have a negative impact on their development and career progression.
Notes for Employers
We have previously reported on hybrid working, which includes tips as to what employers ought to take into consideration.
About the Research
The findings are based on an online omnibus survey of hybrid workers conducted by Censuswide in August 2021. This includes a total of 7,261 hybrid workers in the UK (2,003), France (1,001), Germany (1,002), Poland (1,000) Sweden (1,005), Spain (1,000) and the UAE (250).