Are your employees really more productive in the office?
There’s a strong push, mainly by US companies, to scrap home working altogether.
And although hybrid working is still popular in the UK, more and more big companies are tightening their return-to-office rules, with some even asking employees to come in full-time.
Barclays and Asda have bumped up their office days, now asking employees to come in three days a week instead of two.
In January, Amazon put an end to hybrid working, telling staff to be in the workplace five days a week, ending hybrid working completely.
Asos and Boots followed suit, bringing everyone back five days a week.
Meanwhile, Salesforce want a number of teams in the office most of the time – four or five days a week, at least.
So, is the answer – a full-time return to the office – the only solution to the productivity problem?
Is remote working bad for productivity?
According to research, it seems that for some people it is - and for others it isn’t.
Vitality’s 10 years of Britain’s Healthiest Workplace report found that when people rate their own productivity levels there seems to be an even split between working at home, a hybrid model and fully remote.
Some 34% felt their productivity was better while working from home, 31% felt it was better when in the workplace, while 32% didn’t feel it made a difference, the research revealed.
However, the numbers significantly shift when people were asked about the productivity levels of others - their employees and colleagues.
Senior management generally think that their employees’ productivity level on days they’re working from home is far lower than when they’re in the office.
According to the report, over half (58%) of those who manage large teams (of more than 20 people) feel productivity is lower while people are working from home, compared to just 29% of those without teams reporting to them
Health drives productivity, not where we work
For some of us, working from home full-time can feel isolating, as social interaction and a change of scenery can help us feel connected and engaged with our team and work.
The data from Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace report shows that depression and burnout were highest among full-time remote workers, along with physical inactivity, poor nutrition, obesity, and back and joint pain1.
Yet, that doesn’t mean working in the office five days a week has no negative impact on our health.
A lot of UK workers rely on flexibility and the option to work from home a few days a week to juggle their routine – for example, exercising on their lunch break, doing the school run or avoiding a long, costly and overcrowded commute each day.
Vitality’s report also showed that full-time office workers, when compared to hybrid workers, tend to have poorer mental and physical health, suggesting that a balance between time in the office and time at home is good for us.
Flexibility is the key
Above all else, our survey demonstrates that employees want the flexibility to choose when and where they work.
Close to 73% of employees believe that all employers should offer flexible working options.
And 61% think they would be more productive if they were afforded greater flexibility to choose their own hours, the report shows1.
Providing it’s possible, this suggests that giving employees the freedom to work where they feel most productive is one way to help UK businesses thrive.
For some, full-time remote work might suit their routine and lifestyle, while others thrive when working in the office every day.
Because there is no one-size-fits-all solution, offering flexibility is one way to get the best out of your people.
When teams feel good at work, they perform better – it’s that simple.
Giving them what they need to thrive both personally and professionally is therefore one way to boost workplace productivity and job satisfaction, as part of a supportive organisational culture which promotes positive wellbeing.
Whether that’s allowing remote working a few days a week or letting your employees choose where and when they work at least some of the time.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Vitality
At Vitality, we take a unique approach to insurance. As well as providing high-quality comprehensive cover, we provide a complete wellness package that can help boost employee engagement and productivity.
