Remote working has become a lasting feature of the UK workforce. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 41 percent of Britons worked from home all or part of the time as of September 2024.
However, enthusiasm among senior management for remote and hybrid working is waning. A recent KPMG survey found that 83 percent of UK CEOs anticipate a full return to office working within three years. This shift in sentiment is echoed by prominent business leaders, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of INEOS, who has publicly advocated for staff to return to office environments.
This is likely to create conflict, as many workers are keen to retain the flexibility that comes with working remotely at least a few days a week. According to a recent study by the International Workplace Group (IWG), companies that fail to offer hybrid working options are at risk of experiencing a talent exodus and a rise in “quiet quitting”. But no system is perfect, and hybrid work is not without its pitfalls.
Amid these debates, learning and engagement platform Kahoot! commissioned a survey exploring the experiences of UK professionals navigating hybrid work. Conducted by OnePoll in November 2024, the survey collected insights from 2,000 hybrid workers, revealing challenges and shifting attitudes towards remote work.
Sean D’Arcy, Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot!, said, “The study shows that a third of UK hybrid workers would quit if WFH days were reduced, underscoring the lasting impact of the remote work shift. Yet, the novelty of remote work has faded, with many employees reporting video call fatigue, productivity drops, and privacy concerns. Workers also highlight that increasing interactivity could help alleviate fatigue and make meetings more effective.”
The Health and Wellbeing Impact
The survey had mixed results regarding the health and wellbeing effects of hybrid working. Over half (55%) of UK workers report experiencing video call fatigue, with Gen Z workers feeling the impact most acutely. Additionally, 11 percent admitted to increased alcohol consumption while working from home.
Despite these concerns, hybrid working has had positive effects on personal and professional relationships. Seventy-four percent of respondents said it improved their personal relationships, and 63 percent noted enhanced relationships with colleagues.
Productivity Concerns and Generational Divides
Productivity perceptions have shifted, with 46 percent of hybrid workers believing they are more productive in the office compared to working remotely. Only 23 percent felt more productive at home. Generational divides also play a role in attitudes towards hybrid working, with younger workers expressing a stronger preference for remote work.
Among 18-24-year-olds, 29 percent stated they would be more likely to quit their job if required to spend additional days in the office. This sentiment increased to 34 percent among 25-34-year-olds.
Changing Etiquette and Video Calls
Video call dynamics have become a point of contention. Twenty-eight percent of workers reported being less tolerant of children or pets interrupting video calls compared to a year ago. Additionally, 50 percent objected to colleagues eating or drinking during calls.
Trust issues have also emerged, with over half of hybrid workers suspecting colleagues of faking technical issues to leave video calls. Thirty-six percent expressed scepticism about the productivity of colleagues working from home.
Hybrid working also presents unique security challenges. Thirty-two percent of respondents admitted to eavesdropping on strangers’ video calls in public spaces, raising concerns about the potential misuse of confidential information.
‘This Could Have Been An Email’
A large majority – 87 percent – of respondents believed that some of their weekly video calls were unnecessary. More than a quarter thought half of their weekly calls could be replaced with emails. A third of workers considered video calls less productive than in-person meetings, with productivity on video calls reportedly declining year-on-year
D’Arcy added, “Rather than forcing employees back to the office, employers should focus on improving hybrid work by optimizing meetings, keeping them shorter, more purposeful, and engaging. Flexibility and collaboration remain key, and at Kahoot! we see how fostering engagement empowers hybrid teams to thrive while meeting the demands of a modern workplace.”
