In a groundbreaking revelation, the latest Q2 Employee Experience Insight Report 2023 by WorkL, the leading employee experience platform, has uncovered that employees who engage in hybrid work are the happiest in the world.
The report, based on data from over 8,000 individuals globally, sheds light on the preferences and happiness levels of employees in different work settings.
The WorkL Happy At Work Test, taken by individuals during Q2 of 2023, provides valuable insights into employee engagement and happiness at work.
The data clearly indicates that a combination of working from home and collaborating face-to-face with colleagues in the office leads to the highest satisfaction levels among employees.
Globally, individuals practicing hybrid work reported an impressive happiness score of 73 percent. Surprisingly, those working full-time from home closely followed with a score of 72 percent. The pattern remains consistent in the UK, where hybrid workers scored 70 percent, while full-time remote workers scored 69 percent.
What about full-time office jobs?
However, the report also highlighted a notable trend—employees obligated to be in the office full-time demonstrated lower happiness levels. In the UK, full-time office workers recorded a score of just 66 percent, and globally, the figure stood at 68 percent.
The transition of employees back to the office was a focal point of the report, with 49 percent of workers now returning to the office on a full-time basis. Many organisations are urging their employees to resume in-office work entirely, disregarding the potential impact on employee happiness.
Lessons learnt during the pandemic
Commenting on the findings, Lord Mark Price, the Founder of WorkL, emphasised the significance of a blended approach to work. He stressed that the data underscores the importance of considering hybrid work as a viable option, rather than forcing a full-time in-office model.
The lessons learned during the pandemic showcased that a balance between remote and office work contributes to a dramatic improvement in employees’ overall wellbeing. Lord Price encouraged employers to actively engage with their workforce to understand their preferences better and recommended reading the Q2 employee experience insight report for deeper insights.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
