Employers are demanding that staff return to office working, however staff are pushing back as working from home is still important to them.
Due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, hybrid and remote working became the ‘new normal’ during 2020, and was implemented across the UK job market as a way to continue productivity without breaking government regulations.
We all saw the positivity surrounding this movement initially, but once stay at home regulations were lifted, there was a sudden shift in opinion from many corporations and business leaders.
However, hybrid working remained a priority for many employees. According to ONS, “more than 8 in 10 workers who had to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic said they planned to hybrid work.
From Tesla demanding that employees work 40 hours in the office or leave, to Apple enforcing a two to three day office working policy in order to cultivate in-person relationships, there has been a disconnect between home working when enforced by the government and now.
While managers suffer from ‘Productivity Paranoia’, workers continue to attempt to prove their workloads in order to maintain their current environment.
Let’s look at why the work from home model is a hit with employees:
- Less money spent on commuting
As inflation continues to rise, the cost of train tickets and fuel are set to increase also. This means that many workers are essentially paying more out of their pockets to travel to work than if they were to stay home. According to the latest Office for National statistics reports on Consumer Price Inflation, transport costs rose from minus 1.5% in June 2020, to the July 2022 rate of 15.1%.
- An overall expenditure decrease
Those who worked from home stated that they found themselves spending less. This can be attributed to being contained at home and having small changes in their routine such as making their own lunches instead of buying from a cafe.
- Less distractions
The hustle and bustle of an office can prove distracting, especially if you are trying to make an important client phone call. 53% of workers admitted that home working provided less distractions than in a workplace environment in the ONS report mentioned earlier.
- Improved wellbeing
Wellbeing is continuing to become a rising priority for employees, with 47% reporting improved well-being since working from home.
How will this end?
Employees now want the option of flexible working that allows for a better work-life balance, for which hybrid and remote working can afford a lot of people. With commuting times and costs being deducted from their personal time before work has begun, can they afford to keep up with this in the current climate?
A recent report published by Adaptavist, titled The Digital Etiquette: Reinventing Work Report shows that 34% of those surveyed are actively looking for new employment, and that money is a key motivator in this decision.
It also reported that over a third of respondents “felt anxiety about going into the office, with the commute cited as the biggest cause of stress. As a cost of living crisis looms, workers are also concerned about the extra costs associated with travelling to the office.”
As the cost of living crisis continues alongside the war on home working, employees may feel that going elsewhere would be beneficial not only for their financial well being, but also for their happiness and work-life balance.
A report from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, titled Hybrid Work Is Just Work. Are We Doing It Wrong? looked into the hybrid work phenomena with regards to employee and employer attitudes around productivity.
The data shows that “73% of employees and 78% of business decision makers say they need a better reason” to go into the office than just the company’s expectation. These reasons include socialising with colleagues and rebuilding team bonds.
Microsoft states that businesses need to use in-person socialisation to build and maintain a lasting company. They advised that organisations “that fail to use in-person time to rebuild and strengthen team bonds may risk losing out on attracting and retaining top talent”.
When discussing team bonding, they say that leaders need to re-recruit their staff in order to retain them by way of allowing opportunities for learning development, office friendships and understanding the promise of hybrid work.
If you need help navigating this new way of employee working and also assistance with Recruiting Staff, Plus One’s team of experienced Recruiters ensure that talented, potential hires are engaging with your business so that you have the talent needed to continue to thrive within such a difficult market.
