Amazon recently announced that it is ordering staff back to the office five days a week, ending its hybrid work policy. This follows a series of announcements from other large businesses asking their workers to spend less time working from home and more time in their physical workplace.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, organisations with staff working most of their time away from the office would have been considered radical. Yet, almost five years since the pandemic shut down the economy, hybrid working has become a significant part of work culture in the UK.
According to the latest Opinions and Lifestyle survey from the Office for National Statistics, 28% of working adults are balancing time between the office and home.
However, differences exist in who adopts this practice, with hybrid work more common among individuals over 30, parents, and those in managerial or professional roles with greater flexibility. Higher education also plays a key role, with those holding degrees ten times more likely to work hybrid than those without formal qualifications. Conversely, younger workers, particularly those in hospitality and retail, tend to work fully on-site due to the physical demands of their jobs.
The adoption of hybrid work models has also provided........