Employer V Employee – The Battle for Remote Working 

There is an escalating battle as many businesses are trying to get people back into the office, but will this tougher stance succeed? 

Many organisations are setting stricter limits on remote working as a looming recession is putting pressure on business owners and CEO’s to boost productivity. Companies are facing many challenges and amongst them is trying to work out how to get the best from their staff. Some are reporting lower levels of productivity in their newer hires and are suggesting that these employees need to come back into the office for coaching / training. 

A recent LinkedIn article in December 2022 said that demand for remote working had now outstripped supply. In November 2022, 21.1.% of employees were looking for jobs offering remote working, almost double that from January 2021 (11.6%). However, by November 2022 only 11.1% of jobs advertised offered remote working options, down from 15.6% in January 2022. 

The lack of flexible / hybrid roles means that there is a hidden pool of talent that is not being discovered. Trying to attract these top candidates without offering flexible hybrid work options is like “going fishing without a net” (Emma Stewart MBE – CO-Founder of Timewise). 

It seems that this impending recession, a slow labour market and a number of industry redundancies has given Business Managers more courage to try and take control of the hybrid working debate. 

Whilst there is still a tug of war going on between employers and employees, the gap between what employees want in terms of hybrid working and what employers would prefer is narrowing (employees 2.8 days per week and employers 2.3 days – WFH Research) 

Is there a middle ground? Mobile phone use data shows that Tuesdays to Thursdays are the preferred days for people to commute into the office and many businesses in the UK have taken to embracing this solution. There are many benefits to remote working (to be covered in my upcoming newsletter) that employers should consider and so forcing people back into the office may only create unnecessary friction. 

Recent changes to UK Employment Law will allow employees to request flexible working arrangements from their first day on the job. This change is here to stay. Employers should start waving their white flag and employees need to understand that their work from home revolution needs limits. 

Let us not forget however that an unproductive workforce can make or break a business so surely, it is in everyone’s interest to find the best way to work together