Seven in 10 (70%) UK employees who have hybrid working arrangements want them for the remainder of their careers.
New research from Insights Learning and Development found that UK workforces are now 94% more hybrid than before the pandemic, and nearly one-third (32%) believe they perform better since these arrangements began.
Most were revealed to be happier about their current hybrid work patterns than those in the US, Canada and France, with workers in the Netherlands being the most satisfied.
The study, carried out among 3,000 office workers globally, further discovered that one-third (32%) of UK respondents are close to or fully remote, while more than two-thirds (67%) work predominantly in an office.
The least preferred option was found to be office-first working, with 22% operating this way, and just 17% wishing to do so. Of those polled, 8% are fully remote workers and 19% would prefer this option.
While one-third of those in the UK cited health and wellbeing as one of the biggest benefits of hybrid working, half (51%) said building relationships is now harder and 47% feel less connected to their colleagues compared to pre-pandemic.
Insights Learning and Development chief executive Fiona Logan said: “This report is confirming what many suspected, that flexibility in working practices has been internationally welcomed by employees.
“It is not surprising to see regional preferences shift when it comes to how we work together, and the key for employers is to find a balance that works for our teams and for the business. We all have different preferences and therefore these new routines will work in different ways for different people.”
Logan added that putting people and wellbeing “at the heart of the business strategy” can reap significant productivity benefits for employers.
She concluded: “As we are now not in the office each day together, we need to create a culture and community that fully supports and enables success. Creating a community between remote and in-person work is imperative and the need for human skills, a core purpose and connection are vital for this. As this research shows, businesses need to look at effective ways that truly empower people in how they work and by providing the solutions they need to feel connected and supported, no matter where they are working.”
