As the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to remain inside, working from home suddenly became the new norm. New procedures were put in place, businesses were forced to adapt, and employees experienced a new way of working.
But, as we approach the four-year anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown, what is the consensus on working from home? Are Brits fed up? Or have we become accustomed to the working from home lifestyle? But more importantly, exactly how much has the pandemic changed Brits’ views on hybrid working?
Tonergiant.co.uk conducted a survey of 1,000 nationally representative British workers, to explore the current working from home climate in the UK. It found that:
81% of Brits currently work from home at least one day during the working week, and 2 days of home-working is the most common hybrid working routine.19% of Brits never work from home. Gen Z are working from home the most, with 87% of 16-24 year olds working from home at least 1 day per week.1 in 4 Brits would like to work fully remote, but on average, Brits would like to work from home 3 days per week.Those aged 55 and over are the most open to fully remote work, with 28% saying they would like to work from home 5 days per week.
What is the effect of working from home on Brits?
From our survey, we know that Brits clearly favour the working from home lifestyle and it’s easy to see why. Working from home for part of the week can be economical, time saving, and help promote a healthy work-life balance. Despite this, an increasing number of businesses are introducing return to office policies. But how do workers feel about this?
How many workers would consider leaving their job should they be asked to come into the office full time?
- 44% of Brits would consider leaving their job should they be asked to come into the office full time.
- Women are more likely than men to quit over return to office policies, with 48% saying they would leave, compared to 41% of men.
- Millennials are the most against full-time office roles, with 51% saying they would leave their current role if forced back in full time, compared to just 31% of those aged 55 and over.
How many workers would not apply for a job if it required them to come into the office full time?
- 48% of Brits would not apply for a job if it required them to come into the office full time.
- Again, women would be more likely than men to avoid applying for a full-time office role, with 52% saying they wouldn’t apply, compared to 43% of men.
- Workers aged 45-54 years old are most likely to not apply for a full-time office role, at 53%, compared to just 39% of those aged 55 and over.
Are British workers more or less productive when working from home?
- 59% of Brits feel like they are more productive at home, compared to just 17% who say they are less productive and 24% who say they are equally as productive at home as they are in the office.
- 64% of women said they were more productive at home, compared to just 53% of men.
- Gen Z are the least productive at home, with just 41% saying they get more done here than in the office. Meanwhile, 64% of 35-44 year olds say they’re more productive at home.
85% of leaders say that the “shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence that employees are being productive”
However, Microsoft released a study which found that 85% of leaders say that the “shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence that employees are being productive”. The study also found that 49% of managers of hybrid workers “struggle to trust their employees to do their best work”. This doesn’t prove that the quality of work has decreased since working from home, but does show that company leaders are concerned their workers aren’t as productive as they think they are.
Can working from home impact career development?
Business owners trying to encourage staff back into the office often talk about the benefits of in-person collaboration and getting face-time with more senior members of staff. Worryingly, an increasing number of Brits are concerned that they may actually get penalised if they’re not seen to be in the office as much as is expected.
- 41% of Brits feel that they are less likely to get a promotion or pay rise if they don’t spend enough time in the office.
- 46% of males agree, whereas only 37% of females agree.
Do Brits miss the commute?
While some workers enjoy their commute, using the time to read a book, listen to their favourite podcast or just mentally prepare for the day, for others it is something they’re glad to see the back of.
- 62% of Brits feel like the increased cost of commuting has made them not want to go into the office as much.
- Millennials feel the most strongly about this, as 65% agreed that commuting costs have deterred them from office life.
Do office workers still have concerns about COVID-19?
While for many people, the COVID-19 pandemic is a thing of the past, for others it is still a cause for concern, especially when it comes to working in close quarters with people.
- 41% of Brits do not have any concerns about COVID-19 when working in the office, compared to 39% who do
- The majority of males still have concerns about COVID-19 (41%) whilst the majority of females do not (44%).
- 47% of Gen Zs have concerns about COVID-19, compared to just 31% of people aged 55 and above.
How has working from home affected mental health?
Experts state that working from home can have a big impact on our mental health. Our research suggests that since workers have been at home and become familiar with being behind a screen, Brits are experiencing anxiety when returning back to in-person work environments.
- 40% of Brits feel more anxious when attending in-person meetings, whereas only 33% don’t.
- 39% of British workers aged 55 and over feel less anxious attending in-person meetings, compared to only 29% stating they feel more anxious. This is a drastic difference to the generations below them, as 57% of Gen Zs feel more anxious doing in-person meetings.
- Despite worrying about in-person meetings, 1 in 2 Brits miss the social aspect of being in an office with their coworkers.
How has working from home affected physical health?
As well as impacting our mental health, workers are also experiencing physical benefits of working from home, with more time to focus on diet and exercise. Our results show that the majority of Brits feel like both of these aspects have improved since working from home:
- 52% of Brits feel like their diet is better when working from home, compared to just 21% who feel it has gotten worse.
- 48% said they exercise more when working from home, compared to just 27% who don’t.
Where are the working from home capitals of the UK?
Percentage of Brits who work from home at least 1 day per week by city:
Cardiff is the work from home capital of the UK, with 95% of Cardiff residents working from the comfort of their home at least one day during the working week.
However, 100% of the people we spoke to in Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh would like to work from home at least once in the week, despite the office workers in these regions working from home an average of two days per week.
38% of Nottingham office workers want to transition into complete remote working, whereas only 11% of Newcastle workers would like to work from home five days a week.
64% of Bristol office workers would consider quitting if they got asked to return to the office full time. At the other end of the scale, just 30% of Newcastle workers would quit, as opposed to 39% who would stay in the job, should they introduce a new office working policy.
Brits are split in terms of their concerns regarding COVID-19. On average, 42% of Belfast Birmingham and Glasgow workers still have concerns, whereas the majority of workers from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield and Southampton do not.
Which sectors are most on-board with working from home?
Those working in travel and transport are most on-board with working from home, as 38% would like to work completely remote, whereas 15% of manufacturing and utilities workers want to scrap the hybrid working policy.
Those working in IT and telecommunications work in the office the most, with 12% of respondents saying they never work from home.
Travel and transport, sales media and marketing and healthcare industries feel the most that the cost of commuting has made them not want to go into the office.
Ironically, 72% of travel and transport workers feel the most that the cost of commuting has made them not want to go into the office. As well, healthcare, sales, media and marketing sectors agree the most regarding the rise in commuting costs.
62% of workers in the arts and culture sector miss the social aspect of working in an office whereas the majority of workers in the legal sector do not miss colleague-office interactions.
48% of workers in the UK HR sector are still concerned about COVID-19, closely followed by IT and education. This is a stark contrast to those in sales, media, marketing, architecture, engineering and building, travel and transport, the arts and legal sectors who are not worried.
