‘Half of UK employees now adopting hybrid working’ – CIPD

More than half (51%) of employees are alternating between home and office as more organisations support hybrid working, according to the CIPD.

New research by the membership body, found four in ten (39%) organisations now want to put in place additional measures to support flexible working arrangements (FWA) in the next 6-12 months.

The CIPD’s latest report also states that more than half of employers (56%) think that flexible working hours should be advertised in job descriptions, viewing this as a key tool in attracting new talent in the midst of skill and labour shortages.

The research found that two-fifths of organisations (42%) are willing to approve requests for flexible working, compared with before the pandemic.

In line with the flexible culture, only a quarter said they wanted FWA to be a formal arrangement with nearly half of the respondents (45%) saying they prefer FWA being informal.

The study, which was undertaken over the last six months, claimed more than a third of businesses (37%) have seen a rise in flexible working requests. Employees also reported greater job satisfaction with flexible working arrangements.

Claire McCartney, CIPD senior policy adviser for resourcing and inclusion, said: “It’s great that many employers are embracing the benefits of more hybrid and flexible ways of working.

However, it’s really important that they work collaboratively with employees to find solutions that work for both the organisation and individuals.

“This is a crucial moment for flexible working, but a mismatch on expectations and an ad hoc approach could set back progress.

“Everyone should have the chance to benefit from more choice about when, where and how they work.

“This can lead to increased wellbeing and engagement, and enhanced performance, all of which can lead to the productivity gains many employers are reporting.”

The report also found nearly half (43%) of employers think that their workforce’s productivity has increased since adopting hybrid working.

Businesses anticipate around a fifth (21%) of their staff will work from home permanently post-pandemic, and they expect 40% of their employees to work from home regularly.

The report also addresses the potential issues and risks associated with hybrid working to help organisations implement FWA successfully.