Home working poser for company bosses

Business leaders are split on whether working from home is more or less productive, but most plan to adopt hybrid arrangements as a result of the coronavirus crisis, new research suggests.

A survey of almost 600 company bosses by the InstituteofDirectorsfound that around two in three intend to allowstafftoworkremotelyonbetween oneandfourdaysa week.

One in five of those surveyed said they are not planning to introduce any form of remote working,whilearoundonein 10 is looking for staff to work from home entirely.

Joe Fitzsimons, of the IoD, said: "As the economy reopens, business leaders are grappling with the best working models.

"The flexibility of remote workinghasimprovedworklife balance for employees and cuts down commuting expenses and, in many cases it has also boosted inclusivity and hiring from different parts of the country.

"Butdespitetheadvantages, remote working has not been without its challenges.

"For business leaders, running a tight ship has not been easy without workforces in the same physical space. This isnothelpedbyunreliable internet connections.

"Employee morale has also been affected, with the loss of office camaraderie, and adjusting to new roles has been difficult for new staff.

"Many firms are looking to cut back on office sizes, ramp up home-working and makemoreuseofco-working spaces.

"After a year of mixed experienceswithremoteworking, it seems many business leaders are taking a hybrid stance into the future."