One of the most significant effects of the Covid pandemic has been the widespread move to home or hybrid working. For most industries the 9-5 office routine has been thoroughly disrupted and workers now generally expect to be able to work flexibly.
These workers most likely consider the change a Good Thing but whether it is such a good thing for businesses and customers is open to considerable question.
Nowadays it is not uncommon to have telephone conversations with staff of organisations and to find that their dog is barking in the background, a child is demanding attention, or the worker is quite obviously having to put the call on hold while they call a colleague for the answer to an enquiry. Is it professional? Is it efficient? Is it productive? Does the customer benefit? Doubtful on all counts. And some workers agree…
A survey commissioned by a firm that provides office working environments has found that around 44 per cent of desk-based workers admit they are less productive at home.
The poll, commissioned by real estate investment firm Castleforge, and carried out by Yonder fieldwork between 23rd-27th August 2023 among 1,817 UK adults whose work involves office or desk-based activities, also found that a third (35%) of respondents feel socially isolated when working from home.
More than half (55%) believe they will have greater opportunities for promotion and career development if they work in the office. This figure reaches 63% amongst 18-24 year olds.
But the research also shows workers need to be motivated back into offices, with 52 per cent of respondents, and 69% of 18-24s, saying the quality of an office environment is a key factor for them when deciding to take a job.
The news comes as big tech companies mandate their employees to come back into the office, offering a varied combination of incentives and penalties to bring them back. Amenities are key to the incentives, with some companies even offering on-site hotel rooms.
Castleforge believes the research reinforces a trend toward collaboration in-person becoming the norm once again. Companies will seek out top-quality headquarters offices with a diversity of amenities, and flexible office arrangements that provide a “hotel-like” experience for their employees, they say.
Castleforge Founding Partner Michael Kovacs said:
“With employees having previously enjoyed short commutes from their beds to their desks and dining tables, tempting employees to leave their sofas behind multiple times a week is a challenge. But our research shows workers are more productive if they do.
“That means employers are increasingly looking to offices that feel more like hotels, with really high-quality amenities. Luxury showers, gym equipment, events and fancy coffee machines for employees are all a must nowadays.
“In the case of flexible offices, the employers themselves can act like hotel guests too, benefiting from flexible contracts so they can come and go as they please, and scale the space they need with ease.”
Does your office use home/hybrid working for desk-based staff? Does it work well? Or would you prefer to see a return to the 8.30 a.m. Morning Meeting for all staff and a return to conventional office working? EYE will be interested to read your comments.
High number of BTL landlords still unaware of the upcoming changes to EPC regulations
Pretty obvious really and some become friends of daytime television and the fridge, but on a positive side I know someone who’s built a kit car in their lunch hour.
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This is bull tbh. Having worked FT from home since March 2020, i’m way more productive than in the office. No colleagus talking nonsense to you, phones ringing in the background, people distacting me with their rubbish, people walking in off the street and having to deal with them because sales/lettings are out – just chill podcast on and focus.
Ok, some people cannot do this and are easily distracted, and this isnt for them – but if I was required to come back to the office then questions would be raised to why I’m less productive.
Like anything, it’ll work for some, it wont work for other but to blanket all of this as a negitive is weak managment from the top of the company. I’m fairly sure if you ask my boss does she like the fact all i do is focus on work and available on teams between 8am and 4pm she be extatic this is the case.
stop pushing the “back to the office” narritive.
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Hilarious – one suggestion – during your productive home working time, can I suggest that you put aside a little time towards learning to spell. Perhaps a little extra time towards some grammar expertise? Your Mum would be proud of you.
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thanks – this really adds to the discussion of the topic. well done.
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You just summed up the entitlement of WFH folk
If you are listening to a podcast you are not focused on what you are paid for
I have lost count of the times I have called someone who “has popped out for 5 minutes”
“has just pooed out for a quick bike ride- gym session etc”
is just having a “break”
Hear some screaming kid in the background
Hear the TV on
Rubbish to say weak management it is not passible to mange someone who is invisible at home
I know one girl who goes out – puts her mouse on the turned on washing machine so it looks as if she is active
I have heard the mantra that if I am doing something in working hours I will work in the evening
When I want to know something I do not want a reply at 8 pm when you can be bothered to reply I want it when I am at work
We do not allow WFH and have no problem getting staff
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‘entitlement of WFH folk’- oh Jan, they’re not a single organism- it works for some and not for others. Just because something doesn’t work for you or your business doesn’t mean it doesn’t work for others. A poll, done by a company that needs people in the office, generates a poll showing that people need to be in the office. Shocker. What next- a survey of buyers revealing they want to sell faster, cheaper and more securely?!
Although I will completely agree that there should be an urgent halt to people having ‘just pooed out for a quick bike ride’- sounds disgusting!
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I follow you on twitter. You run a company I respect. Thanks Mr Byfield. I’m sure your workforce is way happier, and more productive than Jan’s and her old staff who had so many made up distractions.
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Sorry for the late reply, been learning how to spell and in-between working.
Such a based view.
Literally none of the items you cited are correct for the vast majority of WFH people, I don’t have a TV in my office, I don’t have kids, I don’t take extra breaks I don’t “pooed” out for a quick bike ride (whatever that means! Maybe learn to spell?).
People are different. People work better differently. Does your office work in complete silence with no music or whatever on? listening to a podcast or music is better than John and Jan talking about some nonsense from the weekend.
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Everyone says they are the people who work diligently from home.
It is not my experience when trying to contact many people who WFH
see below from mumsnet – sums it up totally
From Mumsnet
Need some advice really on my friend. She was made redundant at the end of last year and hasn’t got a job since – she’s been out of work now for nearly a year.
She lives alone and is constantly asking me to go round to her or can she pop round for lunch. I work from home two days a week, three days a week in the office so when I am working from home I am happy to meet on my WFH days.
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Bless, you still believe in mumsnet.
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What’s a ‘based view’?!
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JWVW has recently joined the spelling police and is keen to make their first arrest.
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see – you thought I meant “Biased”, but I’m under 40, so I used “Based” to be sarcastic as it means something different.
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“…around 44 per cent of desk-based workers admit they are less productive at home.”
I’m fairly confident that I know how percentages work, so wouldn’t that suggest that 56% reported that they are either equally as a productive at home, or even more productive?
Perhaps a misleading headline?
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in other news, Spurs are better than arsenal
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I feel this true, there are far less distractions working from home as opposed to the office, however it can be a very lonely existence!! I think working in an office is better for certain folks mental health! ( it was for me )
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This is not a one size fits all.
Some people are more productive at home because they don’t have any distractions at all and are fully focused.
Some people are not more productive at home because they choose to have their children at home with them, choose to complete tasks that are not work related at home during working hours, choose to be deceptive in their approach to working from home (i.e. setting up the mouse to move so it looks like they are working when they are not and have gone off to do something else).
Some people enjoy working from home. Some, like me, don’t!
I am more productive at home as I have far less interruptions, but I hate it. There is no camaraderie, no bouncing ideas, no personal connection and far less co-working. I am a people person and, as such, like being around people and interacting with them, if I didn’t I would be very much in the wrong job! I also need the office/home split, otherwise I find myself logging in at home at non working times ‘just to do this or that’ when really it could wait until the next day and, truth be told, we all need a break and down time to remain healthy, happy and overall productive.
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Most people are not loners and benefit from a team environment mentally and efficient communication. You build a business with dedicated and efficient working practices. Working from home is more akin to reducing the office costs.
Do you allow the customer to come to your home? I think we all know that answer, so any work you are doing at home is admin as far as Estate Agency is concerned.
I won’t be attending your Christmas party, no-one will know anyone ……. sort of!
Limited use working from home.
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“A survey commissioned by a firm that provides office working environments”
Absolutely everything you need to know about the outcome can be gleamed from this sentence. Does nobody remember GCSE History? Check your sources, comment on their biases.
Would be pretty damning for their business if they came out and said ‘turns out most people are just as productive from home, some even more-so’.
As it happens I have turned down roles that do not offer at least a hybrid model, and will almost certainly not be working 5 days in the office any time again.
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