NEW research from Hays has found that most professionals are not willing to forgo the option of hybrid working in hurry, despite widespread discussions around return-to-office (RTO) mandates.
43% of professionals in Scotland would consider quitting their current role if their employer made it compulsory for them to return-to-office full-time, the research found. Across the UK, women (58%) are more likely to leave their position than men if they had to give up hybrid working.
According to the research, based on a survey of over 8,000 responses from employers and professionals across the UK, employers say 77% of their workforce are currently working in a hybrid way.
For those offering hybrid working across Scotland, most employers allow staff to choose how many days they work remotely (28%), followed by 23% who require their staff to be in the workplace three days a week.
Keith Mason, director at Hays Scotland, said, “The debate over returning to the office full-time versus continuing to work in a hybrid way has been a heated topic in recent months. Three days in the office tends to be the norm, however, we’re seeing many larger organisations here beginning to consider increasing RTO days to four, with some full-time.
“In the face of an evolving work landscape, Scotland’s employers need to be more creative with flexible working arrangements that go beyond the conventional remote and hybrid models. By adopting innovative approaches, businesses can foster a more engaged and productive workforce, while employees enjoy a better work-life balance.
“The key to success lies in creativity. For example, implementing office ‘anchor days’ – when all staff are required to come into the office on a certain day – can enhance collaboration and team cohesion, providing regular opportunities for in-person interaction. Team rotas can ensure the operational effectiveness of the business, distributing work and responsibilities evenly.
“For many employers, making a full-time return-to-work policy compulsory may put them at risk of losing top talent, as the research illustrates how highly professionals still value the option to work remotely. A relatively small percentage of employers believe that productivity with home-working is less than office-based workers, so it’s important for employers to consider the issue from all sides.”
85% of employers say they haven’t made any changes to their hybrid working policies in the last six months, whilst 15% have asked employees to be in the workplace more often.
Only 6% of employers in Scotland have plans to mandate a return-to-office in the next six months. Two-thirds of employers across the UK have concerns that a push to return-to-office would cause backlash from employees.
In Scotland, professionals say the top factor that would impact their decision to return to the office on a more regular basis is the cost of commuting (69%).
“Employers must look at the bigger picture before making any significant changes to their current hybrid working offering,” Mason added. “It’s crucial to consider key factors such as the cost of commuting, employee wellbeing, productivity and the many benefits that hybrid working can bring to their business, in order to keep hold of their workforce in a challenging market.”
45% of employers believe productivity is the same between home workers and office workers, followed by 17% who view home workers as more productive than office workers. Only 18% say staff working from home are less productive overall than office-based workers.
