Hybrid working could harm the prospects of young and low-salaried UK workers, according to research commissioned by The Access Group and carried out by the University of Nottingham.
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The study aimed to set out the pros and cons of hybrid working, with some workers improving their mental health while others said they found it more challenging to switch off at home compared to the office.
Researchers found that the youngest respondents reported lower levels of well-being than any other age category. The survey said under-20s ranked 9.7 per cent lower for well-being than those aged 21-30.
The youngest age bracket was also ranked 10 per cent lower than people in the 31-40 and 41-50 age brackets.
Dr Luis Torres, Assistant Professor in Organisational Behaviour, Business and Society at the Nottingham University Business School, commented:
“This study has revealed a very mixed picture for hybrid working, where some groups of workers are thriving and can create a good life-work balance, while others are feeling disadvantaged.
“Hybrid working has a great potential for business, workers, and the environment by reducing commuting time, costs, and carbon emissions. However, some workers feel more isolated and worry about their career progression.
“To realise the benefits of hybrid working, businesses must address these concerns by creating working environments where people can socialise despite the distance and by clearly communicating promotion criteria.
“We are happy to have contributed to this important and useful research with The Access Group.”
The study also found that engagement within a hybrid working environment is lower among young employees, with under-2os reporting 17 per cent less engagement than the 21-30 age bracket and 18 per cent lower than the 31-40 and 41-50 age brackets.
Workplace engagement among under-20s was more than a fifth lower (22 per cent) compared to colleagues aged between 51 and 60.
The survey showed that low-income employees in the UK are also more likely to be excluded from splitting their time between home and the office.
Researchers have reported that just a fifth of hybrid workers earn less than £30,000 per year, compared to 39 per cent of workers required on-site.
Dr Phil Parker, an independent health and happiness expert, states that hybrid working brings many benefits to employees but can leave people feeling isolated.
He said: “Human connection is vital, not just for everyone’s mental and physical health, but for business success too.
“In the past, the workplace provided an opportunity to meet and connect with others, and there’s a risk that this has been lost as more people work remotely.
“With increasing isolation in modern society, a good hybrid working model makes it easy to build strong working relationships.”
The research by the University of Nottingham and The Access Group conflicts with a study published by Zoom in August 2022.
The Zoom study found business leaders believe the impact of hybrid and remote working has a more positive impact on employee experience, with 71 per cent saying that it positively impacts employee happiness.
In the Zoom research, business leaders claimed that “the future of work is hybrid”, with more than four-in-five (86 per cent) of leaders agreeing with the statement while only four per cent disagreed.
The study also found that more than 90 per cent of leaders preferred a hybrid or remote working environment versus in-person only.
