The tide appears to be turning against hybrid working, with the number of fully office-based workers now exceeding hybrid workers once more, according a new survey of office workers conducted by recruitment firm Hays.
The survey of just under 15,000 UK professionals and employers, undertaken between 10 August and 11 September, reveals that 39% of workers are currently working in a hybrid way, while 43% are now fully office based. Last year, 43% of workers who took part in the survey said they split their working hours between home and the office, while 36% said they were working fully in an office setting.
The percentage of remote workers has also fallen, with 18% of respondents to the latest survey saying they work fully remotely compared with 21% last year.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of employers anticipate their hybrid working offering will change over the next 12 months and that they will require increased staff attendance in the office.
However, despite the fall in the number of hybrid workers, the survey found that 61% of employers are now offering hybrid working compared with 47% in 2021.
Half of organisations surveyed said they operate a hot-desking policy at their workplace, increasing to nearly two-thirds (63%) of organisations based in London. Two thirds of employers (66%) said they have refitted their workplace, office or meeting rooms to facilitate hybrid working.
Gaelle Blake, head of permanent appointments at Hays UK and Ireland, said: “It’s clear from our research that there’s still no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to how staff want to work and how flexible employers are willing to be. Yet, despite more workers saying they are now working full time in an office, it’s evident that hybrid working can’t be erased overnight.
“Not only have some employers reconfigured their offices to make sure hybrid working offers a streamlined experience, but many have reduced the number of desk spaces, meaning there’s not necessarily enough physical room for all staff in one workplace.
“What employers need to understand is that everyone is different. Some workers may thrive in an office environment, and some won’t. If employers are asking staff back to the office more, they need to question if they are doing it for the right reasons such as facilitating more team building opportunities and offering an enticing work environment. Employers who are asking staff to come into the office more due to a lack of trust will struggle to retain staff going forward.”
