The UK is the working from home capital of the world
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted traditional working models, the UK continues to work from home more than nearly all of its global counterparts. In this blog, we’ll look at the data behind that, why UK workers continue to work either fully remote or hybrid, and what some of the working from home benefits include.
Where do people work from home the most?
According to a recent worldwide poll conducted by the Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA), UK workers continue to work from home more than nearly all of their global counterparts. UK employees average 1.8 days a week of remote working, higher than the international average of 1.3 days.
Hybrid working models are now established as the dominant practice amongst economically-advanced locations where staff are able to carry out their roles remotely.
This is especially true in western, English-speaking countries such as the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia, but is much rarer in east Asia locations, such as Japan and South Korea, where workers continue to commute to the office full-time.
The reasons for the UK’s predilection for working from home are often cited as being the cost and time associated with commuting to and from the office – especially in London and southern areas of the country – as well as the flexibility that parents enjoy from choosing to work in a hybrid or remote capacity.
Working from home benefits
Ever since working from home became the norm a few years ago, many argue over the pros and cons of a practice that has completely changed our traditional office-centric model.
So, what are the benefits of working from home, for both employees and employers?
Working from home benefits for employees
Improved work-life balance
Working from home provides employees with the benefit of more flexibility. Without having to travel to and from work, they are allowed more time to take care of other areas of their life, whether it be walking the dog, picking up the kids from school, or attending personal appointments.
Being able to work from the comfort of your own home, or space of your choice, is also massively beneficial. Though it might not suit everyone, some certainly benefit from added privacy, home comforts, and quieter surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of office spaces.
Reduced commuting costs and time
One of the biggest arguments in favour of working from home is the reduced commuting, both from a financial and time standpoint. Factors such as traffic, public transport, and weather conditions can add a significant amount of time onto a commute, which is time that could be spent either more productively, restfully or recreationally.
One study found that UK employees who travel into the office spend an average of £19.10 per day on things like transport, food, dog sitters and child care. In contrast, employees who work from home spend an average of £9.41 per day, which includes energy and water bills.
Increased autonomy and productivity
Reports have shown that remote work can lead to higher productivity outcomes. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that 52% of remote workers found it quicker to complete work, and 53% experienced fewer distractions.
Better inclusivity
By removing the need to commute to the office, organisations are able to recruit a more diverse range of employees – such as parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities. Different types of work become more accessible to a larger pool of people, who are able to work from home in a setting that suits their needs and preferences.
Health and wellbeing benefits
Working from home can have a positive benefit on both physical and mental wellbeing. By removing the need to go into the office full-time, employees have the opportunity to incorporate more physical activity into their working day, such as a lunchtime walk or trip to their local gym, and have more time to prepare nutritious meals. The NHS suggests that working from home also helps to reduce common stressors associated with going into the office – such as commuting and workplace distractions, resulting in decreased levels of stress overall.
Working from home benefits for employers
Cost savings
For employers, a significant benefit of operating in hybrid or fully remote working patterns is a reduction in office overheads. That can mean a reduction in utilities, maintenance and supply costs for offices that are partially used.For some businesses, fully remote working means they no longer need to rent an office space at all.
Enhanced productivity and efficiency
As well being a benefit for employees, organisations also welcome the increased levels of productivity and efficiency that can come with hybrid and remote working models. The CIPD found that more than 40% of UK employers observed improved productivity with the adoption of hybrid and remote working practices.
Access to a broader talent pool
By opting for remote working models, organisations are able to tap into a broader talent pool when recruiting. They are not bound by geographical constraints, and, as mentioned earlier, can employ a more diverse range of individuals whose needs may be better accommodated by working from home.
Improved employee retention and reduced absenteeism
Hybrid and remote working models can improve employee satisfaction, making workers more likely to stay in their role. Employees’ preference to work from home either exclusively or part-time remains high, with more than 50% of employees around Europe saying they would prefer a flexible arrangement.
Employees who work from home have also been shown to take fewer sick days, according to a study by the UK government which looked at the benefits of offering family-friendly workplace policies.
Greater business resilience
Implementing working from home policies and practices can help to build greater resilience for businesses. This has already been proven during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many organisations were forced to quickly adopt a remote working model in order to keep their businesses running.
Hybrid and remote working enables employers and employees to remain agile, and experience less disruption when faced with challenges such as health crises, transportation strikes, and extreme weather events that may otherwise prevent workers from being present at work.
What does the future of flexible working look like?
While we’ve seen many organisations enforce return-to-office mandates over the last few years, hybrid and remote working appear to be here to stay.
At present, approximately 40% of the UK working population – 22.6million people – are either hybrid workers (26%) or exclusively remote (14%). Compare that with 1998 figures, when just 2.9million workers mainly worked from home, and we can see just how massive the shift has been.
Despite efforts from businesses to return to the office, research suggests that less than half of UK workers would comply with return-to-office mandates, with many saying they would look for another job if their employer ordered them back to the office full-time.
Flexible working, in the form of hybrid and remote working, looks set to continue. It presents organisations with challenges, but also opportunities – to embrace their employees’ preferences and help them carry out their best work.
