UK firms risk boycott over plans to ditch hybrid working

UK bosses might not like it, but the battle over remote and hybrid working practices is raging as fiercely as ever, with three-quarters (75%) of office workers claiming they will refuse a job that does not offer them the chance to work from home at least some of the week.

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of companies clamp down on remote working, with WPP demanding that staff go into the office at least four days a week and Amazon, Boots and JP Morgan recalling all staff full-time. Meanwhile the former boss of Marks & Spencer and Asda, Lord Rose, has claimed that remote working is not proper work.

But a new survey from the Global Payroll Association reveals that the shift in the way we work may be permanently deep rooted in the modern-day workforce, to the extent that we would rather have a flexible working arrangement than see the previously fabled four-day week become a reality.

Of the 1,000 UK office workers surveyed by the GPA, 74% stated they either work entirely remotely, or split their week between working from home and at the office, whilst around a quarter (26%) work from the office full-time.

Although some business leaders, such as Jeff Bezos, believe that working from home cultivates dwindling productivity, just 7% of those surveyed by the GPA believe it makes them less productive.

In fact, more than half (55%) believe they are actually more productive working from home, with 38% stating they are just as productive as they would be in the workplace.

Furthermore, almost three quarters of those surveyed (73%) say that they are more likely to go ‘above and beyond’ for their employer while working remotely, committing to earlier starts or working later into the evening.

All in all, 94% of workers say it is important for them to maintain a degree of flexibility in their working arrangement, so much so, in fact, that three quarters (75%) say they would turn down a job that didn’t offer them this flexibility.

While 31% of those surveyed say they want to work remotely all of the time, a larger proportion (43%) would prefer a hybrid working model, splitting their time between home and the office.

Only 20% say their first choice would be to dedicate four days to working in the office in exchange for a three day weekend.

According to the latest IPA Census, just under two thirds of agencies (66.1%) indicated that they are using a 3-day office/2-day remote model for their workers, while a further 16.5% are using a 2-day office/3-day remote model.

Global Payroll Association chief executive and founder Melanie Pizzey said: “We’ve seen some high profile figures within the world of business look to reverse the pandemic-induced move to a more flexible working life, and it would be fascinating to see the data that backs up their claims that productivity levels have dropped as a result of people working from home.

“However, it’s clear that a flexible working arrangement is now a key requirement in the eyes of many UK workers, so much so that no less than three quarters would now avoid applying for a role that didn’t offer some degree of flexibility.

“What’s more, a higher proportion would rather maintain a flexible working lifestyle instead of seeing the previously fabled four-day week become a reality.

“While there may be a case to prove with respect to the impact remote working can have on productivity, it certainly seems that those firms who completely eradicate it from their professional offering could seriously reduce the talent pool on offer to them when it comes to hiring.”

Related stories
Media and tech staff ‘have best mental health benefits’
Agency chiefs ‘must galvanise teams’ as pay gaps widen
Industry makes DE&I gains but discrimination still rife
Agencies boost D&I as IPA Census maps out new era
Industry faces mental health crisis over finance squeeze
Marketers stew as fears grow over burnout, cuts and AI
Job hunting marketers warned: ‘Don’t forget the basics’

 

Be the first to comment on "UK firms risk boycott over plans to ditch hybrid working"

Leave a comment