According to a study by the hiring platform Indeed, while 57 percent plan to bring staff back into the office in the UK in the next two-years, 44 percent confess that their in-office presence is more about making an appearance than achieving a specific purpose.
In the survey of 1,500 office workers, 500 employers and their expectations, a growing gap was noted between employee preferences, and what executives expect. Only 17 percent of respondents said they attended the office more than was required. This shows a preference to work from home.
Over half (55%) of employees agree that attendance at the office is often not for a meaningful purpose, but rather to maintain appearances. Nearly half of workers (46%) see RTO mandates as superficial solutions to organisational problems. More than half of employers say they prefer employees who are in the office more often – an opinion shared by nearly 43 percent of workers.
Sixty one percent of employees are in favor of stronger government rights regarding remote work. However, half think that such policies will not affect their employer’s attitude towards office attendance.
Four-day Work Weeks & The Right to Disconnect
The idea of a 4-day workweek is gaining popularity among employees and employers. Eighty-two per cent of UK employers think that a four day work week will be a reality in their organisation within five years.
Employers also support the government’s proposals to increase rights to compressed workweeks, with 59 per cent supporting this initiative. 67 percent of workers believe they can complete their current workload in four days. Even employees rate a shorter week of work as more important than the ability to choose their location or disconnect.
When asked about the plans of the Labour government to implement a “right-to-disconnect”, 68 percent said that they supported the legislation. However, 41 percent believed their employers would still expect them to be available after hours.
This distrust appears to be largely a result of workplace culture. Nearly half of employees (49%) say that their organization expects them to respond immediately to messages. Senior leaders are also feeling the pressure, with 44% admitting that they feel under pressure to stay online or at the office even after working hours.
Flexibility in the workplace
The debates about flexible working arrangements and office requirements will continue. It is clear, however, that alignment between employee expectations with employer policies remains a key focus for workplace culture and HR development.
Danny Stacy, UK head of Talent Intelligence for global hiring platform Indeed said: “Flexible policies are a great tool for businesses to retain and attract top talent. Workers clearly value the ability to work in a manner that is convenient to them.” This will vary depending on the industry and business, but employers should be happy to know that flexible working policies are becoming more popular.
“Not all businesses are able to provide remote work. Instead, they could implement a shorter work week or flexible time. In our research, employees have stated that leaders in business set the tone for flexible work. Senior employees must set the example for organisations that want to embrace flexibility.
