A weighty 91% of companies still have hybrid workers in their organisation, according to the latest research1 from Towergate Health & Protection.
The research reveals that only 9% of employers currently have no hybrid workers. On average 39% of the workforce are hybrid working and 27% of employers have more than half their workforce hybrid working.
Delving into more detail, the research goes on to show that 30% of employees work from home for at least three days a week. Employers stated that 31- 40-year-olds are the age group most likely to want to work from home, and over 60s and under 25s are least likely to want to work from home.
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing for Towergate Health & Protection comments:
With so many people still working from home for at least some of the week, health and wellbeing support needs to be adaptable to all scenarios. Employers should look to offer as wide a range of support as possible and make it easily accessible from the workplace, and remotely, and we’re seeing more employers using employee benefit platforms to help with this.
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing for Towergate Health & Protection
It would appear, however, that employers are keen for their employees to return to the office, with 98% having implemented a measure to persuade their employees back to the workplace.
Ways in which employers have tried to encourage hybrid workers back to the office:
Organised more on-site socials 41%
Made free drink and/or meals available 40%
Organised on-site wellbeing days 38%
Made access to in-person counselling available 38%
Offered access to a gym 38%
Made some office days mandatory 37%
Subsided transport/commuting costs 34%
None of these 2%
The vast majority of the actions taken by employers have been to ‘encourage’ employees back to the office but a still significant 37% of employers have made some office days mandatory.
Different employees thrive in different settings and what is best for one person may not be best for another. There are advantages and disadvantages of hybrid working and decisions will need to be based on what is best for the employee, weighed up with what is best for the business. Each business will have different needs for office-based and remote working and there are gains to be made from both.
Debra Clark says:
Many employers are still offering some level of flexibility over work locations and the drive for a return to the office has mostly been on a voluntary basis. The important thing is ensuring that the employer is still able to engage with their employees, regardless of the work setting. Employee benefits and support will need to remain flexible and adaptable to both scenarios.
The support and benefits implemented to encourage employees back to the workplace have a further advantage of helping to support the four pillars of health and wellbeing. Access to gyms, in-person counselling, on-site socials, and subsidised transport costs mean that the physical, mental, social and financial aspects of health and wellbeing are all being catered for. What is vital, however, is that employers ensure these needs are met for home or hybrid workers too.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
