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UK employees spend just 1.6 per days a week in the office, research shows – but is that a problem for employers?

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Summary

New data reveals UK workers are spending minimal time in the workplace, averaging 1.6 days a week, compared to 3.8 days prior to the pandemic. Despite this, many organisations are introducing hybrid working policies, such as Zoom requiring employees to commute two days a week, and Google having stricter policies for those who flout the rules. Experts advise employers to measure productivity, not force people to return to the workplace, provide more autonomy, and not to follow the crowd. Companies should also consider cutting costs by reducing or repurposing their premises, such as the law firm Kingsley Napley's 'blackout Friday' policy.

Q&As

What is the average number of days per week that UK employees spend in the office?
The average number of days per week that UK employees spend in the office is 1.6 days.

How have employers been dealing with the increased hybrid working?
Employers have been dealing with the increased hybrid working by introducing policies that require employees to commute to the office at least two days a week, as well as stricter policies for those who frequently flout the rules.

What have been the findings of the Vitality data reporting on productivity?
The Vitality data reporting found that home workers were 13 per cent less productive than hybrid workers.

What are the pros and cons of having a fixed-hybrid working model?
The pros of having a fixed-hybrid working model are that it allows employers to balance working arrangements and provides employees with autonomy and freedom. The cons are that it can be a big ask to remove that autonomy and freedom, and there is often no analysis behind the arbitrary days of the week split to suggest it is the most appropriate for any job.

What are the potential benefits of cutting costs on office spaces?
The potential benefits of cutting costs on office spaces are that it can save money and empower flexibility.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides great insight into the pros and cons of hybrid working, with experts providing thoughtful approaches to entice people back to the office.

👎 This article fails to provide any tangible solutions for employers struggling to balance hybrid working arrangements.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the fact that UK employees are spending only 1.6 days of their working week in the office, which is slightly lower than the global average of 1.7 days per week. It goes on to explore the implications of hybrid working for employers and the pros and cons of having people back in the office.

Friend: That’s interesting. What are the implications for employers?

Me: Well, the article suggests that employers should measure productivity before encouraging people back to the office and they should give people autonomy when it comes to their work arrangements. The article also mentions that many businesses are cutting costs due to largely unused office spaces, and that employers should make sure to communicate expectations clearly to prevent any potential disputes.

Action items

Measure productivity of employees in the office and those working remotely to determine the best working arrangement for each role.
Encourage autonomy and flexibility in the workplace, and allow employees to work when, where, and how they want.
Consider reducing or repurposing office spaces to save costs, and communicate any changes to employees clearly.

Technical terms

Hybrid Working: A type of working arrangement that combines remote and in-office work.
Zoom: A video conferencing platform.
Google: A multinational technology company.
Vitality: A health and life insurance provider.
LinkedIn: A professional networking platform.
Autonomy: The right or condition of self-government.
Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
Productivity: The rate at which goods or services are produced especially in comparison to the labor and capital expended in producing them.
Analysis: The process of breaking down a problem or concept into its component parts in order to gain a better understanding of it.
Flexa: A flexible working platform.
Cost Cutting: The act of reducing costs in order to increase profits.