Staff reluctant to return to offices full time

New research suggests firms are reporting a reluctance by staff to return to offices amid continued popularity of working from home.

A survey of almost 300 organisations by XpertHR found that nearly all said they have encountered challenges implementing hybrid working.

Most respondents said their staff generally spend between two and three days working from home each week, but almost two in five employees are unhappy with this split and would prefer to spend even less time in the office.

Reasons for staying away from offices have shifted away from concerns about catching Covid-19 towards the benefits of saving money on commuting and childcare arrangements, said the report.

Organisations surveyed said the benefits of hybrid working for employers and staff include improved work-life balance, increased productivity, improved engagement and a positive impact on attracting and retaining workers.

Noelle Murphy, of XpertHR, said: “Human resources (HR) have managed one of the biggest changes to working life since the Industrial Revolution with hybrid working, but it is still a work in progress.

“Challenges continue and HR will need to continue to address these, while ensuring this new way of working delivers for all employees.

“HR are clear that there is work to be done challenging the outdated view that presenteeism means productivity, and that where the work is done is less important than the quality of the work produced.

“While there are retention challenges facing employers right now, it is even more important that HR can continue to evolve and tweak hybrid working models to ensure they support and facilitate a culture of connection and collaboration that will deliver engaged employees and a successful business.”

Published: 14/07/2022 by Radio NewsHub