Is Reduced Productivity Driving the Return to the Office?

Recent research conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed some interesting statistics about the increasingly popular decision to return to the office. More businesses are reverting and asking their employees to return onsite, some on a full-time basis, while others are simply increasing the number of onsite/office days. Their research found that 41% of businesses have increased the requirement for how much time they expect their employees to spend onsite working. Productivity seems to be one of the biggest contributing factors towards this decision to return to the office. However, figures show that it is of varying levels, depending on the sector.

Productivity when Working from Home

41% of all companies in the research conducted by BCC reported a negative impact of remote or hybrid working on productivity. Sectors such as manufacturing found more of a negative impact on productivity whilst working remotely than B2B companies. 49% of manufacturers said it decreased productivity, whereas 25% of B2B companies stated that working from home increased productivity. This suggests that there is still much debate surrounding productivity whilst working from home, and that specific sectors may have different views on this.

Some argue productivity is higher when working from home, with reasons such as:

• Reduced distractions – of which may include office chatter, impromptu conversations/meetings, excessive noise, etc. Employees can experience higher focus and improved efficiency.
• No commute time – This could help to support work-life balance, improve wellbeing, and reduce the chances of burnout.
• Flexible work hours – Some employees may be able to adjust their schedules to align with their peak productivity times.
• Higher employee satisfaction – If employees are happier, they tend to be more productive.
• Personalised workspace – Employees can tailor their workspace to their specific needs and preferences, optimising their environment for concentration.

However, some arguments for working onsite to improve productivity include:

• Increased collaboration – face-to-face with your team, fostering conversation and teamwork.
• Access to resources – The workplace may be better equipped with resources, technology, and people to help perform a job more effectively.
• Separation of work and personal life – Could be considered easier to ‘switch’ to your work mindset when going to the office/onsite, allowing for better concentration on work tasks.
• Professional development – Facilitate spontaneous professional development by being surrounded by colleagues to learn from and network with.
• Reduced distractions – this could be argued for office working too. Employees may face several distractions when working from home that may interrupt their concentration and productivity.

What does the future look like?

Only time will tell, but these statistics suggest a further shift back to the workplace. Whilst it is unlikely that hybrid and remote working will disappear completely, many employers seem to agree that they want their employees to work from the office more frequently.

How does oneHR help?

oneHR is the perfect HR tool for managing your people, whether your business works onsite, remotely, or follows a hybrid model. Here are a few ways our software helps:

Cloud-based document storage – Store important employment documentation on oneHR, making it accessible to all, no matter where they are working.

Leave calendar – Have full visibility of employee leave within your company, improving workforce planning. Plus, there is the ability to mark WFH days on the calendar, allowing for full transparency on the whereabouts of colleagues.

 E-Signatures – Admins and Managers can upload documents to an individual employee or company-wide folder and request an e-signature for the document. This eliminates the need for physical paperwork and lengthy back-and-forth exchanges.

The statistics included in this blog were taken from the British Chambers of Commerce research – link here.

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