More than half of professional Londoners are embracing hybrid work, with 56% indicating that they would not consider a job without this flexibility, according to a recent survey conducted by Hays, a recruitment company. The study reveals that 18% of professionals in London have fully transitioned to remote work, marking a significant shift in the way people work in the city.
This transformation in work styles has had a profound impact on the lives of Londoners in the post-pandemic era. Irene Poku, an executive coach, shared her experience of the pre-pandemic daily commute, which often involved spending two hours traveling to clients' offices. However, with the shift to online sessions, she now finds her work-life balance greatly improved, allowing her to see more clients and spend quality time with her family.
Similarly, Kiranjot, a kundalini yoga teacher, used to travel between studios to teach in person. However, she has since transitioned to offering online classes through a subscription-based service, which has allowed her to reach a global audience and scale her business.
The rise of remote work gained momentum during the pandemic when employees were advised to work from home. Many professionals are now resistant to returning to the traditional five-day office workweek, leading to a surge in hybrid work arrangements.
Seirdre Mc Gettrick, the founder of a technology company, turned to remote work as well. She operates ufurnish, a furniture search website, with her team of 15 who work remotely and even have the flexibility to work from abroad for up to a month each year. This approach has enabled her to tap into talent from around the world, giving her business a competitive edge in hiring.
While remote work offers undeniable benefits in terms of flexibility and accessibility to a wider talent pool, it also has its downsides. According to Freespace, a company specializing in optimizing office space usage, office occupancy rates in London have decreased. On average, offices were 70% full on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in September 2019, but in September of the following year, they were only about 50% occupied. Mondays and Fridays had lower attendance in the office even before the pandemic, and now, Fridays see just 14% office occupancy on average in September.
Raj Krishnamurthy, CEO of Freespace, expects this trend to continue, with midweek office usage gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels. While many companies do want their staff to return to the office, they are not forcing the issue, as employees have grown accustomed to the benefits of hybrid work.
However, not all employers are fully on board with hybrid work arrangements. Some parents, in particular, have built their routines around flexible work and view it as a productivity enhancer. Kimberley Whitaker, a senior lawyer and single parent, withdrew from a job opportunity when the company insisted on five days of office work. She believes that hybrid work has been a "great equalizer" for those with caregiving responsibilities, mobility issues, or long commutes.
The Hays survey shows that 69% of employers in London are offering hybrid work, and over a fifth of them (21%) allow employees to choose how many days they work remotely. However, 28% of companies offering hybrid work expect staff to be in the office more frequently in the coming year.
The debate on the productivity of remote work continues. André Spicer, a professor of organizational behavior at City, University of London, suggests that a combination of two to three days in the office and remote work may be the "sweet spot" for productivity.
Paul Swinney, the director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities think tank, raises concerns about a potential productivity decline due to reduced face-to-face interaction. He highlights the importance of in-person collaboration in the functioning of businesses and the London economy.
In the evolving landscape of work arrangements, one thing is clear: employees now prioritize flexibility, and companies that do not offer this flexibility risk losing top talent. As London and the world adapt to new ways of working, the future of work may never be the same again.