Skip to main content

Unpacking the Trunk: The case for hybrid

15 July 2023
woman working from home

Although the increase in remote and hybrid working was accelerated by the pandemic, three years on there is still a strong preference for flexible working. Recent data from the ONS indicates that 84% of workers who were able to work from home during COVID stated their desire to continue with hybrid working, and between September 2022 and January 2023, 44% of UK workers were either fully remote or split their time between home and the office.

However, there is an increasing trend towards mandating a return to the office in an attempt to return to ‘normal’. This approach ignores the advantages of hybrid and remote working and organisations risk losing talented employees who may seek greater flexibility elsewhere.

Successfully implemented hybrid work models offer a range of benefits to organisations and individuals, and although success is not solely based on the decision to offer hybrid and remote working, the evidence should not be ignored: 

Wider Talent Pool

Hybrid and remote creates flexible opportunities for people who may not be able to participate in the workforce under a full-time office based model, and opens a broader, more diverse pool of talent. This may include parents of young children, unpaid carers, and people with disabilities. Last year, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities dropped and participation in the labour market grew at three times the rate of those without disabilities. 

Well-being

Employee wellbeing continues to be a top priority for many organisations and research has shown that 78% of people believe hybrid or remote working has improved all aspects of their wellbeing. These include financial benefits, physical improvements, better social connections, improved emotional wellbeing and decreased levels of stress. 

Productivity

Studies have shown that remote working can boost productivity. Hybrid working provides the best of both worlds by allowing employees to work in an environment that suits them best. One study suggests that the optimum ratio of time in the office is between 23%-40%, delivering increased levels of performance, productivity and quality.  

Flexibility and autonomy

Choice and flexibility about how and where employees work helps to increase autonomy and promotes a better work-life balance. Discussing where and when people do their best work, and involving employees in decisions around which work should be done in person, creates ownership and understanding, while still meeting the requirements of the business.

Hybrid and remote working has been transformational for organisations and their people, and remains the preferred choice for many. But we know that just offering the option to be Hybrid does not guarantee success, and there are some challenges leaders and teams are striving to address. Employees may want to work in their own space, but they don’t want to feel isolated, and building the connections that organically developed in an office environment requires a deliberate and purposeful approach by leaders, teams and individuals. 

Hybrid is about people not process, and we work with leaders and teams to help them build deliberate, purposeful connections so they thrive in a hybrid world. If you’d like to have a conversation, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.