Reduction in remote working as staff go back to the office

There has been a significant shift back to traditional office work, according to a new report.

Adare Human Resource Management’s “HR Barometer”, to be published today, reveals that 58pc of the workforce have remote or hybrid-working arrangements.

While this represents a large proportion of workers, it says it is a notable reduction compared with last September, when it stood at 79pc.

“This 21-point decrease suggests a significant shift back towards traditional in-office work arrangements,” it says.

“With 42 pc of workers now fully on site, this looks to mark a reversal of the pandemic-induced trend towards remote work.

“It reflects a movement towards pre-pandemic norms.”

It says this could be driven by factors including management’s preference, the nature of the work benefiting from in-person interaction, or a belief that company culture and collaboration are better supported through on-site work.

“Organisations will need to consider the impact on employee satisfaction, retention and recruitment, as well as the potential need for rethinking office layouts and collaboration spaces, to accommodate the increased in-person workforce,” the report added.

It says 12pc of the workforce in the businesses surveyed are working entirely remotely, up from 7pc in September last year.

A further 46pc are engaged in hybrid working, down from 72pc in September last year.

The report notes that the legislative framework to request remote and flexible working has recently been “activated”.

“Seen as a benefit to the employee-employer relationship and creating greater flexibility and balance, [remote working] continues to be a challenge to organisations in the areas of retention, engagement and culture,” it said.

The report notes a 5pc increase in workplace conflicts last year, with almost three-quarters of organisations experiencing these.

One in five businesses said they have been invited to attend the Workplace Relations Commission or Labour Court. The average business attended the mediation bodies an average of four times.

However, pay is on the increase and 88pc of employers plan salary hikes this year. The value of pay rises is expected to average 3.6pc.

“Considering the backdrop of economic fluctuations and digital transformation, it is clear that a people-led approach remains at the heart of sustainable growth and innovation,” said Kieran Mulvey, director at Adare Human Resource Management.