Hybrid working (a mixture of being in the workplace and working from home) was in its infancy when the COVID 19 pandemic hit in 2020. Lockdown meant that homeworking was enforced and, after a return to the workplace was legally sanctioned, the practice of hybrid working was accelerated.
Some employers have since started to push back on hybrid working, most famously US investment banker JP Morgan who required their 22,000 employees to return to the premises on a full-time basis, scrapping their hybrid working policy which previously allowed staff to work from home three days per week. Going forward, homeworking would only be permitted in an emergency situation.
Their Chief Executive argued that remote work had led to inefficiencies, lack of collaboration, and reduced productivity, whereas he believed that in-office work would foster better collaboration, networking, and professional development. Somewhat ironically, it was then reported that the company did not have sufficient desk space at its London headquarters to host all its staff five days a week….
Hot desking, which saves on office space and utility bills, is certainly one of the pros of operating a hybrid working policy. In addition, a reduction in commuting is obviously better for the environment and can provide for more working time.
There is also a perception that remote working increases productivity due to the lack of “watercooler chatter”, although there is the alternative argument that employees working from home are less productive due to domestic distractions and a lack of direct supervision. Both are unlikely to be true based on work location alone, and would have more correlation with an individual’s own work style and work ethic.
There are also considerations in respect of recruitment and retention. In these modern times, employees expect to have a degree of flexibility; mandating full time workplace attendance is likely to have a negative impact on both attracting and retaining staff.
"It is, however, also important to recognise that as human beings we need human interaction. Additionally, the Chief Executive of JP Morgan was correct in stating that collaboration with colleagues is important for the exchange of ideas and for training. Employers therefore need to assess the balance between (perceived) productivity, employee satisfaction, networking and cost."
HR Solutions can assist you with drafting and implementing a hybrid working policy, along with guidelines for homeworking.
