Pre-2020, working from home was something of a rarity. For many, the option was unheard of in their workplace, with only a small percentage of businesses across the country actually offering flexible, remote working before the unprecedented arrival of Covid-19.

Before the pandemic, the idea of working from home would make most business owners scoff. But as we enter 2022, business owners and employees alike are seeing its benefits, with many businesses vowing to go partially or fully remote permanently.

Without a doubt, working from home has been life-changing for UK office workers. No more stuffy 1-hour commutes. Comfy clothes. Extra time to do, well, anything. Whether that’s hanging out the washing, hitting the gym, or just getting some extra shuteye.

Although a raging success, the work-from-home concept is still in its infancy. Already we’ve seen this new way of working carve its own path into corporate life, but what’s next for the UK workforce as it navigates life post-pandemic?

March 2020: The beginning of lockdown

Firstly, let’s look at some statistics from the very start of the pandemic.

When lockdown first hit in March 2020, many UK businesses seemingly started working from home overnight. Usually buzzing with people and chatter, office spaces were suddenly silent and eerie, resembling something post-apocalyptic.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), by April 2020, 46.6% of employees spent time working from home, with 86% of these individuals working from home as a direct result of the pandemic.

Interestingly, of those who did work from home, around one-third worked fewer hours than usual (34.4%), and just less than one-third worked more hours than usual (30.3%).

2021: Post-lockdown

Jumping forward to 2021, life began to resemble something ‘normal’ again. The vaccine was announced, shops and restaurants opened their doors again, and most employees by this point were accustomed to working from home.

Although from the outside the move to working from home appears successful, there were mixed opinions from employees. According to The Home Office Life, 21% of surveyed individuals working from home said they want to return to the office in 2022, whereas 19% said they want to continue working from home 5 days a week. But, what’s most interesting, is that 85% want it both ways. Enter, ‘hybrid working’.

2022: The year of hybrid working

With the new year upon us and the UK beginning to learn to live with Covid-19, it seems ‘hybrid working’ is becoming the new work from home, whereby employees split their time between the office and home working. Whether that’s coming in twice or week or just once a month, employees get to keep their newfound work-life balance while also having those all-important face-to-face meetings with their colleagues.

Where working from home was a temporary solution to maintain normal day-to-day business during the pandemic, hybrid working appears to be a more suitable, long-term solution that puts productivity and wellbeing at its core – even when the pandemic is just a distant memory.

The benefits of hybrid working

Hybrid working offers a wealth of benefits for both employees and businesses. According to Big Issue, businesses are in favour of hybrid working because it can mean cheaper overheads and rent, reduced sickness levels and the ability to employ people all over the country and even the world.

For employees, the biggest benefit is better work-life balance. Not only this, another survey by the ONS found that participants had “a reduction in the time taken to complete work”, which is likely due to fewer distractions and better focus at home.

However, for many, the office provides a space to socialise and collaborate, and working from home can mean a lack of valuable time spent with colleagues. Hybrid working allows individuals to have that essential face-to-face time with their colleagues that a Zoom call just can’t replace, and ensure business performance remains strong.

Hybrid working is proving that we really can have our cake and eat it too. In a digital world that never switches off, having more personal time has been nothing short of life-changing. But if we’ve learnt anything from the pandemic, it’s that going into the office and spending time with colleagues is still important for business growth and relationships.

Do you think hybrid working is here to stay? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below or tweeting us at @victorydigital_.