Workers believe hybrid working boosts productivity and motivation

Employers who micromanage their team’s working patterns and locations risk losing top-tier talent to “quiet quitting”, according to a new survey.

The survey of 1,005 UK workers by serviced office provider International Workplace Group explored the main reasons why UK workers are most likely to “quiet quit”, a workplace term used to describe employees doing only the bare minimum required by their job description.

More than half (57%) of workers said that they were more likely to “quiet quit” if they had a manager who made them feel undervalued, micromanaged or did not provide the flexibility to work from a location which best suits their needs.

The survey also found that two fifths (40%) of office workers are less likely to ‘quiet quit’ or become demotivated at work if their employers offer a hybrid model.

Six in 10 (62%) hybrid workers said they would consider leaving their job if required to return to the office five days a week. 71% would decline a new job or position that involved a long commute, while 72% would only consider new roles offering the flexibility to work from any location.

In addition to boosting productivity levels (78%), workers felt hybrid working empowers employees to make decisions about their work schedules based on when and where they work best (92%).

For workers that currently lack the flexibility to work where they want, 55% believe they would experience greater job satisfaction and productivity if allowed to work in a hybrid manner by their manager or boss.

The survey also asked workers what they considered the top three markers of good management, with promoting work-life balance, trusting workers to complete work from any location and being approachable and open to conversations about new ways of working ranking highest.

The survey comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters this week that a culture of presenteeism ‘can be damaging to productivity’. Speaking ahead of forthcoming legislation on employment rights, Starmer said: “It’s about making sure that we have the right balance of making the most of the flexible working practices that we saw following the pandemic, but also having appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that people can stay productive.”

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