Member Article

Survey shows hybrid working is here to stay

A survey of more than 1000 businesses found just 27 per cent believe their staff will be fully in-person over the next five years.

Furthermore, 47 per cent anticipate their staff to be mostly in-person, 16 per cent expect mostly remote and eight per cent fully remote.

The research found a clear divide between different sectors, with business-to-business (B2B) services firms, such as the finance and legal industries, more likely to expect remote working.

Only 17 per cent of B2B services organisations expect fully in-person working, while the figure for manufacturers is 38 per cent.

Companies were also asked about the connectivity tools they use, such as video calling and cloud security.

Three quarters of firms said they were confident of making the right purchasing decisions, with 55 per cent relying on external experts when making decisions about adopting technology.

Additionally, 65 per cent said connectivity tools are value for money.

Jane Gratton, British Chambers of Commerce deputy director – public policy, says: “Our data shows hybrid working is now part of the fabric of the modern workplace.

“For millions of people, logging in remotely for at least part of the working week is now routine.

“Flexible working makes good business sense.

“As well as boosting recruitment and retention, it can help employers unlock new and diverse talent pools.

“However, employers still value regular face-to-face contact with staff, and our findings show only eight per cent of businesses expect staff to be completely remote.”

Aine Rogers, Cisco UK & Ireland’s managing director of small and medium enterprise, added: “We know employees thrive in a hybrid working environment, as it enhances their wellbeing, work-life balance and performance.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bdaily Publishing .