North West businesses say hybrid working is still good for their employees’ productivity and wellbeing – but they do want staff to spend more time in the office, a new study shows.
Grant Thornton Ƶ’s latest Business Outlook Tracker, which polled mid-sized firms across the North West, found 87% of companies are currently adopting a hybrid working approach.
Of those surveyed, 85% believed it had boosted their staff productivity, while 84% believed it had “positively impacted” the wellbeing of their teams. Meanwhile 85% believed their people prefer a hybrid working approach and 88% believed hybrid working was generally beneficial for their business.
But despite that, 85% of those whose firms have hybrid working wanted their staff to spend more time in the office than they currently do. Grant Thornton says this “may be due to a recognition that in-person interactions can often be more beneficial for specific activities” – with 76% of those hybrid working firms saying it is impacting their ability “to provide adequate support and development for younger or trainee employees.”
Carl Williams, practice leader for Grant Thornton Ƶ in the North West, said: “Across the North West, we're seeing businesses embrace hybrid working while still valuing crucial in-person connections. This flexible approach boosts wellbeing and productivity, yet many organisations recognise that activities like mentoring younger talent thrive with face-to-face interaction. Finding the right balance is essential for businesses.
"At Grant Thornton, we believe in empowering our people to make sensible decisions about where and when they work. A trust-based approach with clear guiding principles allows employees to deliver high-quality work while enjoying a better work-life balance. Implementing a supportive framework helps ensure everyone's needs are met - from businesses and clients to employees balancing family commitments or seeking enhanced wellbeing."
