Research by hiring platform Indeed found that while 57 percent of UK employers surveyed plan to have staff back in the office full time in the next two years, 44 percent admit that in-office attendance is often more about appearances than fulfilling a clear purpose.
The survey, which included 1,500 office workers and 500 employers, noted a growing divide between employee preferences and executive expectations. Only 17 percent of employees reported attending the office more often than required, showing a preference for working from home.
Over half of workers (55%) agree that office attendance often serves no meaningful purpose and is instead about maintaining appearances. Nearly half (46%) perceive RTO mandates as a superficial solution to organisational issues. Moreover, 56 percent of employers admit favouring employees who come into the office more frequently – a perception shared by 43 percent of workers.
Sixty-one percent of employees support stronger government rights for remote work, yet half believe such policies would not change their employer’s stance on office attendance.
Four-Day Work Weeks and The Right to Disconnect
While the return-to-office debate remains contentious, the idea of a four-day work week is gaining traction among both employees and employers. Eighty-two percent of UK employers believe that a four-day work week could become a reality for their organisations within five years.
Government proposals to strengthen rights to compressed working weeks have also gained support, with 59 percent of employers backing the initiative. Workers are equally optimistic, with 67 percent saying they could complete their current workloads within four days. Employees even rate a shorter work week as more important than location flexibility or the right to disconnect.
When asked about plans by the Labour government to introduce a “right to disconnect,” 68 percent of employees said they favour the legislation – but 41 percent believe their employers would continue to expect after-hours availability.
Workplace culture appears to play a key role in this distrust. Nearly half (49%) of employees say there is an expectation within their organisation to respond to messages immediately. Senior leaders also feel the strain, with 44 percent admitting they face pressure to remain online or in the office after hours, regardless of workload completion.
Enabling Flexible Working
As debates around flexible work arrangements and in-office requirements continue, it is clear that the alignment between employee expectations and employer policies will remain a central focus for HR and workplace culture development.
Danny Stacy, UK Head of Talent Intelligence at the global hiring platform Indeed, said, “Flexible working policies are an excellent tool for businesses looking to attract and retain top talent, given the importance that workers clearly place on working in a way that suits them. What this looks like will differ between industries and individual businesses, but the good news for employers is that different forms of flexibility are gaining popularity.
“Not every business is able to offer remote work, for example, and could instead put into place a shortened work week or flexi-time. Employees have made it clear in our research that business leaders set the tone for flexible working. Organisations who believe in flexibility and want to ingrain this in their culture must ensure that senior employees lead by example, so workers at all levels feel empowered to follow suit.”
