The Office is back: Research reveals the ultimate working week formula, as 95% of employees say they’re ready to be back in the workplace
- A study into attitudes towards office-based working has revealed the ideal working week for Brits comprises of 3 days in the office, flexible working hours and an increase in socialisation opportunities
- The research also revealed, however, that employers are lacking when it comes to supporting their staff – with over 50% of workers claiming the business they work needs to do more to support workplace wellbeing
As ‘work from home’ advice ends and workers are encouraged to head back to the office, a study by the north-west’s largest out of town business park, Warrington-based Birchwood Park, has revealed the majority (82%) of us are happy to be heading back into the office at least 2 days a week – but employees have extra demands to improve satisfaction at work.
With 95% of people shunning working from home every day, Birchwood Park’s research revealed the reasons behind this shift in attitude towards homeworking lay in the impact on work-life balance and convenience.
Amongst the biggest factors having a negative impact on our lives whilst working from home are increased screen time and longer hours (45%), feeling disconnected from our colleagues (44%), and increased difficulty in switching off at the end of the day (32%).
Additionally, the office has a key role to play beyond work with 73% of workers valuing the ability to socialise with colleagues above all other benefits.
However, it’s clear employers need to do more to support staff in transitioning back into office-based working, with less than 50% of those surveyed expressing that the company they work for is doing enough to support workplace wellbeing.
Coming out as the top areas in which employees would like to see the most improvement from their employers is the introduction of flexi-time, greater flexibility to work from home as required, and adaptations to the workplace such as break out areas, quiet working facilities and desk adaptations for greater comfort.
Commenting on the findings, Martin O’Rourke, Commercial Director at Birchwood Park, said: ““After almost two years of home-working for some, the results are very clear – people want to return to the office, and we’re seeing an increase in interest in office space here on the park as a result.
“However, it is troubling to learn that many do not feel that their wellbeing is thoroughly supported by their employer. That’s why we’ve launched our Workplace Wellbeing hub – to help employers understand that the office plays a much bigger role than simply being a place to work, and offer advice on how to better support their staff at work.”
As part of Birchwood Park’s ongoing commitment to facilitating wellbeing in the workplace, the business park’s content hub is its latest initiative to help make improving staff wellbeing easier for a business, and will feature a handbook developed in collaboration with workplace wellbeing expert and founder of award-winning Rener Wellbeing, Khalil Rener, alongside a charter calling for all businesses on the park to commit to best practise advice.
Speaking about the project, Khalil Rener commented: “It’s refreshing to be working with a business destination so committed to supporting the wellbeing of employees across multiple industries and sectors, and our hope is that Birchwood Park’s Workplace Wellbeing Handbook will act as a catalyst for change for businesses.
“With government advice shifting away from a ‘work from home order’, it yet again means change for businesses and employees alike which is tough. Yes, the novelty has worn off when it comes to working from home so it’s not surprising that 95% of people do not wish to work from home full-time, but it’s vital that employers don’t assume it’ll all be plain sailing as soon as we’re back in the office. Our aim is to provide clear guidance on the journey back to office-working, ensuring it is a smooth transition for employers and their team.”
For more information on Birchwood Park’s campaign to improve workplace wellbeing and support in the transition back into the workplace, visit https://bit.ly/3sFCVqN
