Blog

​We are seeing a significant number of our clients asking employees to come back into the office, in this blog we explore why employers are asking this and the benefits of this! 

We’ve seen in a recent report by law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, 63% of clients have made a conscious effort to accommodate more flexible, hybrid working options. This is coupled with an understanding that 49% of clients acknowledging that working in a hybrid capacity should be a privilege and granted based on both trust and performance; not something to be taken for granted. In fact, 45% of employers plan to reduce pay and benefits for remote workers in the next 3-5 years. 

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We don’t want any candidate to face a reduction in pay or benefits so let’s explore why returning to the office is beneficial both mentally and physically. 

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Let's talk about routine! 

A Its scientifically proven that having a daily routine is extremely beneficial, getting up and going to the office which is a different environment breeds more productivity and creativity. When we work from home it is easy to blur the lines between work and personal life. Having a routine is extremely beneficial to your mental health, it reduces stress levels, you have better concentration and more energy, it improves our decision making and offers feeling of security and control. Returning to the office, no matter how many days a week offers routine, and the benefits associate with it. 

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Growth, confidence, and creativity

It is not just about being seen to be working by senior leaders, working in the office also helps grow your confidence in presenting ideas, putting forward opinions and asking for help. Working from the office can help with collaboration and can breed new ideas and creativity. 

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Let's learn from one another 

On the job ‘practice’ is the most effective way to learn, it gives you change to practice what you are learning. While it is important to acknowledge that online, digital learning material is extremely effective to put this into practice, it is best to do so with the help and support of others. You can also learn and absorb knowledge from your colleagues, you can immediately ask for help if you become stuck on a task, or a colleague may highlight a more effective way of doing something. 

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Work life balance 

Working from the office is proven to be rewarding, being in the office there is far fewer distractions – were not talking to family members or doing the laundry. Working from home can also blur the line of between the personal and professional, this can be draining both mentally and physically. Coming into the office on a hybrid basis also creates a physically boundary between home and the office, living, eating, drinking and sleeping in the same place isn’t necessarily a good thing.

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Social interactions make us feel happier

Believe it or not being around one another does make us feel happier! Being in the office allows us to socialise and network; this in turn helps us form better communication skills. Working from home can also make you extremely isolated, video calls do not amount to the same benefit as a face-to-face interaction. The office encourages grabbing a coffee with colleagues, going to the pub for happy hours and this is extremely effective at reducing stress – humans are social beings and its unnatural for us to have no social interaction. A study of 42,000 employees suggested that 62% if them listed socialising with colleagues as the biggest benefit to being back in the office. 

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We acknowledge that a hybrid model offers the greatest benefits! Working from home offers us more time with family, to complete our ‘life admin’; however, visiting the office a couple of days a week offers huge growth in our professional career. It encourages routine which makes us more productive, it inspired growth, confidence and creativity; whilst also allowing us to socialise with our colleagues and learn from one another, this is essential a healthy work culture and future growth. 

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