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An East Midlands recruiter says employers should think twice before ordering staff to return to the office full-time, as more businesses make the move.
Some businesses have scrapped hybrid work policies altogether. Nottingham-based retailer Boots recently announced that it would ask staff to return to its headquarters in Nottingham, where it employs 8,000 people, to work full-time by September.
Meanwhile, leading contractor Laing O’Rourke has also ordered its staff to return to their desks in early 2024, saying its workplaces are “often sparsely populated”.
In 2023, around 92% of UK companies have abandoned full remote working in favor of mandatory office policies.
For Richard Lichfield, owner of Grantham-based Innovative Freight Talent, it was a clear choice for the business to make. He said: “The pandemic has shown employers and employees alike that hybrid working is possible across multiple industries.
“Not only does this make financial sense for the business, saving on the overhead costs of running an office, but it also reduces the need for employees to spend several hours commuting to work each day and provides a much-needed work-life balance.
“But we are now seeing many organizations decide to bring everyone back to the office full-time. We recommend that companies consider this policy before making the commitment as it will almost certainly delay candidates from applying for their roles. People we talk to every day All value roles that allow them to thrive, whether they work from home or in an office.”
Litchfield said the announcements are likely a sign of things to come. A recent KPMG survey found that 63% of UK CEOs expect a full return to office work by 2026.
He added: “The power of working together in the office is huge and a lot can be achieved by collaborating more closely with colleagues. However, a hybrid approach is indeed the best approach, especially for companies looking to attract the best talent.
“By enforcing strict office policies, I feel that companies will lose top talent who crave this way of working. Personally, I became a business owner because I wanted to blend work into my life, so I totally Understand the need to listen to employees and give them what they want.
“Some positions do need to be site-based, but we are seeing first-hand that those in more senior positions are deciding on the type of work routine they need.
“Ultimately, if we work with these companies that are asking employees to return to the office full-time, we would tell them to ask their employees what they want. This is to avoid outright employee dissatisfaction, which could lead to mass turnover and difficulty recruiting people to replace or expand the workforce. Number of people.
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