With many estate agencies struggling to fill vacancies, business research suggests recruitment success could be linked to an employer’s ability to offer hybrid working patterns.
A study by flexible workspace operator IWG revealed four in five (83%) HR professionals in the UK believe hybrid working is essential in attracting the best talent.
Nearly half (49%) of the 500 HR professionals surveyed said hybrid working was an extremely effective tool to recruit and retain workers. Some 62% said they had introduced a hybrid working policy post-2020 following the pandemic and are seeing positive results, with nearly 60% reporting they had seen tangible improvements in employee retention as well as employee satisfaction.
IWG’s research also suggests that the shift to hybrid work as the new norm has also had a positive impact on overall culture and collaboration within organisations. The majority (95%) of HR professionals report a direct correlation between employee productivity, wellness and the number of days spent in a physical office space, with a quarter (25%) saying that three days in the office is the ideal number to maximise these benefits.
IWG CEO Mark Dixon said: “These findings confirm what we have been seeing for some time – that hybrid working can be a win-win for both employees and employers. The balance that hybrid working offers – between office and home, and work and life – supports employee wellbeing and as a result can help employers stay competitive when recruiting and retaining strong talent.
“The results also show that hybrid working helps businesses improve productivity, culture and collaboration and we will continue to see more organisations adopting it to future-proof their operations.”
Francesca Peters, IWG’s chief talent officer, added: “The competition for talent remains fierce. As employers, we have a responsibility to ensure the right policies are in place to give employees the best experience, and in order to get the best out of them.
“It’s not just about recruiting talent. Retaining the great people you already have is crucial and this study underlines the importance of hybrid working as a tool to do both while improving employee satisfaction and work/life balance.”
