New research reveals that 75 per cent of people would turn job a job that doesn’t offer hybrid or remote working.
The survey by The Global Payroll Association (GPA) also shows that flexi working is preferable to a four day week.
Of the 1,036 office workers surveyed, 74 per cent stated they either work entirely remotely, or split their week between working from home and at the office, whilst around a quarter (26 per cent) work from the office full-time.
Just seven per cent believe it makes them less productive, 55 per cent believe they are actually more productive working from home and 38 per cent stated they are just as productive as they would be in the workplace.
The results come as a contrast to the likes of the former head of Asda saying that remote working is ‘creating a generation who are not doing proper work’ and large businesses such as Amazon, Boots and JP Morgan now insisting that all staff work from the office full-time.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed (73 per cent) say that they are more likely to go ‘above and beyond’ for their employer while working remotely, perhaps committing to earlier starts or working later into the evening.
And 94 per cent of workers say it’s important for them to maintain a degree of flexibility in their working arrangement, so much so, in fact, that three quarters (75 per cent) say they would turn down a job that didn’t offer them this flexibility.
Thirty-one per cent of those surveyed say they want to work remotely all of the time and a larger proportion (43 per cent) would prefer a hybrid working model, splitting their time between home and the office.
Melanie Pizzey, CEO and Founder of the GPA, said: “We’ve seen some high profile figures within the world of business look to reverse the pandemic-induced move to a more flexible working life, and it would be fascinating to see the data that backs up their claims that productivity levels have dropped as a result of people working from home.
“However, it’s clear that a flexible working arrangement is now a key requirement in the eyes of many UK workers, so much so that no less than three quarters would now avoid applying for a role that didn’t offer some degree of flexibility.
“What’s more, a higher proportion would rather maintain a flexible working lifestyle instead of seeing the previously fabled four-day week become a reality.
“So whilst there may be a case to prove with respect to the impact remote working can have on productivity, it certainly seems that those firms who completely eradicate it from their professional offering could seriously reduce the talent pool on offer to them when it comes to hiring.”
