As employers continue to adjust to long-term hybrid working, new research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows the continued growth of regular working from home.

New ONS data shows an increase in the number of people who are working under some kind of hybrid working pattern has increased, as has the number of people who want to work mostly from home.

The data shows that:

• 24% of workers were hybrid working in May 2022, compared to 13% who were doing so in February 2022.

• In May 2022 42% of people wanted to work mostly from home, an increase from 30% in April 2021.

• The proportion of people who want to spend some time working from home has stayed relatively constant since April 2021, at around 84%.

• 78% people who work either exclusively from home, or in a hybrid way reported an improved work life balance. 53% reported fewer distractions and 52% said it was quicker to complete tasks.

This research shows the value that staff place in being able to work according to a hybrid working pattern. For employers who might still be considering longer term changes to their established ways of working, the research indicates that offering some proportion of hybrid working may be a useful staff retention tool that could help support staff wellbeing and lead to increased productivity.

Hybrid working arrangements can usefully be set out in a written policy, in order to make the organisation's requirements clear and confirm the extent to which hybrid working can be supported beyond the pandemic. The policy should explain the organisation's general approach to hybrid working, and in what circumstances staff will be required to submit a formal flexible working request in order to formalise a hybrid working pattern.

  • Rebecca Fox is a Partner at VWV, a national law firm with offices in Clarendon Road, Watford. Get in touch on 01923 919300 or at rfox@vwv.co.uk