Businesses in Britain are pushing for a return to traditional office work, with half expressing a desire to end hybrid arrangements. However, enforcing this could spark resistance among employees.
In a surprising turn of events, British companies are reconsidering their hybrid working policies and leaning towards full-time in-office work. This shift is driven by concerns about productivity, collaboration, and business suitability, despite clear employee preference for flexibility.
According to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), 48% of British companies expect employees to be in the office every day in the coming year. This marks a significant change from previous surveys, with 27% of firms predicting fully in-person work in 2023.
The perceived productivity and innovation gains are a key factor influencing this shift. Many employers, only 17% of whom believe hybrid or remote working increases productivity, feel that having employees together onsite drives better teamwork and innovation.
Sectors like manufacturing and consumer-facing businesses tend to favor full on-site presence, seeing hybrid work as less compatible with their operational needs compared to B2B services, which still embrace hybrid models.
The return to office (RTO) mandates from companies like Amazon and Google have also played a role in this shift. A significant number of UK workers would consider quitting their jobs rather than returning to the office full-time due to RTO mandates. Women are more likely to quit due to these mandates than male colleagues.
Some leaders see in-person work as vital for maintaining company culture, communication, and spontaneous interactions that are harder to replicate remotely. However, this approach risks employee dissatisfaction or attrition, with two-thirds of those planning to leave their firm within the next year citing the desire for suitable hybrid working policies as a reason.
Employers weighing return policies must navigate new UK legislation granting employees stronger rights to flexible working, requiring careful legal compliance to avoid disputes. Gratton, an expert in the field, warns that RTO mandates could negatively impact recruitment and retention.
Gratton urges employers to adopt a flexible approach to working policies that takes into account the desires of both the company and the staff. Such an approach is beneficial for attracting and retaining a skilled workforce and driving economic growth, according to Gratton.
Interestingly, Gen Z workers are on the fence about RTO mandates. On average, 41% of companies said hybrid working had a negative impact on productivity, with 49% of manufacturers holding this view. However, the high cost of commuting and work-life balance are key factors driving this sentiment among workers.
Despite these challenges, employees generally favor the flexibility and benefits of hybrid working. A majority of manufacturers and customer-facing companies expect staff to spend all of their working days in the office or on site next year. However, Gratton suggests that a flexible approach to working policies is the key to striking a balance between the needs of the company and the staff.
- Employers are leaning towards full-time in-office work, as revealed by a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce, with 48% of companies expecting employees to be in the office every day in the coming year.
- The shift towards more in-person work is driven by concerns about productivity, collaboration, and business suitability, despite employees' preference for flexibility.
- The return to office (RTO) mandates from companies like Amazon and Google have also played a role in this shift, with a significant number of UK workers considering quitting their jobs rather than returning to the office full-time due to these mandates.
- In the industry, experts like Gratton advise employers to adopt a flexible approach to working policies that takes into account the desires of both the company and the staff, as this approach can benefit recruitment and retention, as well as drive economic growth.
- Despite concerns about productivity, the high cost of commuting and work-life balance are key factors driving employees' preference for hybrid working, particularly among Gen Z workers who, on average, are on the fence about RTO mandates.
