UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
A global study finds UK employees work from home more than their international counterparts, with hybrid working patterns becoming the dominant model in advanced economies
UK workers are averaging 1.8 days a week of remote working, exceeding the international average of 1.3 days, according to a worldwide poll of over 16,000 full-time, university-educated workers.
Hybrid working patterns have become established as the dominant model in advanced economies for staff who can carry out their roles remotely, particularly in English-speaking countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
In contrast, office-centric culture prevails in east Asia, with most full-time workers in Japan and South Korea commuting daily to the office.
The popularity of home working in the UK has been attributed to the cost and length of commuting, especially in London and south-east England.
The study found that men and women work from home at similar rates globally, although women with children have a stronger desire for home working.
Younger respondents showed a preference for working from the office to get noticed by senior colleagues or learn informally from peers.
The research also found that hybrid work is no longer the exception, but the expectation, with no strong evidence that remote work comes at the cost of productivity for organisations.
However, fully remote roles have varying impacts on productivity depending on the type of job and management.
A separate poll found that less than half of workers would comply with an employer's requirement to return to the office full-time, with women and parents most likely to resist strict return mandates.
Hybrid working patterns have become established as the dominant model in advanced economies for staff who can carry out their roles remotely, particularly in English-speaking countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
In contrast, office-centric culture prevails in east Asia, with most full-time workers in Japan and South Korea commuting daily to the office.
The popularity of home working in the UK has been attributed to the cost and length of commuting, especially in London and south-east England.
The study found that men and women work from home at similar rates globally, although women with children have a stronger desire for home working.
Younger respondents showed a preference for working from the office to get noticed by senior colleagues or learn informally from peers.
The research also found that hybrid work is no longer the exception, but the expectation, with no strong evidence that remote work comes at the cost of productivity for organisations.
However, fully remote roles have varying impacts on productivity depending on the type of job and management.
A separate poll found that less than half of workers would comply with an employer's requirement to return to the office full-time, with women and parents most likely to resist strict return mandates.
