UK employees and their organisations are reaping the benefits of flexible working, according to new research released by Microsoft. According to Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index, the number of people working in a hybrid way across the world is up seven percentage points on last year (38%), while 53% of people are likely to consider transitioning to hybrid working in the year ahead.

While many organisations in countries across the world are struggling to adapt to new ways of working that will see employees split their time between the office and their home, the UK is showing them how it should be done. When UK staff were surveyed, 84% said they are as productive or even more productive compared to a year ago – higher than the global average of 81%. The UK figure is higher than Australia, Japan, Canada and many countries across Europe.

Less than half (43%) of business leaders in the UK who were surveyed said productivity had been negatively impacted since the move to remote or hybrid working. This is 11 percentage points lower than the global average, and much lower than the 84% recorded in China, 62% in India, 53% in Italy and 52% in France.

Organisations in the UK are seeing that productivity is not being affected by where their staff work. As a result, they are giving employees more say in deciding whether they commute to the office or work from home. Less than half (44%) of business leaders in the UK say their company is planning to require employees to work in-person, full-time within the next year. This is six percentage points lower than the global average.

UK staff appear to be in lockstep with their managers and like the freedom to choose how and where they work. Only 38% of workers in the UK who are currently working in a hybrid workplace will seek to be fully remote in the next year, compared with a global average of 51%.

Nick Hedderman, Senior Director of Modern Work Business Group, said:

“Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index shows the UK has not only adapted to flexible working but is embracing it – and reaping the benefits. This is encouraging as the UK rethinks how to be competitive on the global stage. Organisations will be able to attract and retain the very best talent from the hyper-competitive job market with this progressive thinking. The role of leaders has never been so critical in this change, as every person and team will have preferences. It’s critical leaders have open and honest discussions with each employee and the team as a whole about what flexible work means for them to maximise their impact and nurture their wellbeing.”

It’s important that managers schedule regular conversations with employees, be clear with their teams on their hybrid working strategy and ensure every meeting can be attended in person and online.

Microsoft’s 2022 Work Trend Index reveals findings from a study of 31,000 people in 31 countries. The pandemic has led to a 153% rise in the number of weekly meetings and a 252% increase in weekly time spent in meetings for the average Teams user since February 2020. There has also been a 32% increase in chats sent per person since April 2020. As a result, an average Teams user has seen their workday increase more than 13% (46 minutes) since March 2020, and after-hours and weekend work has grown even more quickly, at 28% and 14%, respectively.

With so much demand for people’s working time, employees are now more likely to prioritise their health and wellbeing over work than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen percent of staff changed jobs last year, with personal wellbeing or mental health and work-life balance cited as the top reasons. Forty-six percent say they are looking for a positive work culture, while 42% said they wanted mental health and wellbeing benefits.