In response to new research published by the British Chambers of Commerce revealing 4 out of 10 businesses have increased requirement for staff to return to on-site work, East Midlands Chamber has said the extent of remote work is dependent on the individual needs of businesses.
Findings in the British Chambers of Commerce research include:
- 4 out of 10 firms have required more on-site work over the last year
- One in ten firms say employees have quit due to a requirement to return to on-site working
- 6 out of 10 manufacturers expect all work to become in-person over the next 12 months
- Just under half of businesses (48%) expect all working days to be on-site during the next 12 months
East Midlands Chamber Director of Resources Lucy Robinson said: “There cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ for firms and their approach to hybrid working when some physical or front-facing roles must be in-person by nature but for businesses that have more flexibility open to them, there’s a balance to strike that can depend on the culture a firm cultivates and the staff it wants to attract and retain.
“Five years on from COVID, evolving technology has transformed traditional office-based functions providing the tools to get things done smoothly from anywhere, even down to delivering presentations or bringing together a team for a discussion, while home workers have learnt to become more agile and efficient in managing time and task completion.
“In terms of attraction and retention of staff, there are workers who have family commitments or find home space provides quiet time, space to focus and power through tasks free of interruption, while others find a vibrant office vibe is helpful for motivation, sharing of ideas and building interpersonal skills. Being able to provide conditions that suit a range of candidates widens the available talent pool for employers.
“Ultimately the extent of hybrid work will be something firms constantly evaluate to get the best results and will likely continue to differ greatly from business to business. Striking the best balance between the specific outcomes a business needs and maintaining an environment that retains a supportive culture and can make a job offer attractive is key. This is underlined by our own research in the East Midlands that shows filling vacancies continues to be challenging, with 6 out 10 businesses having struggled to find suitable staff.”
