Future of Work

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How Bumble, Oddbox, Beamery &amp; Koru Kids are Solving the Hybrid Workplace Puzzle

Pre-Covid, many employers were suspicious of working from home (WFH) and feared it would harm productivity. But an increasing body of research shows that WFH actually boosts productivity levels.&nbsp;



In our <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://hubblehq.com/should-we-ditch-the-office/survey-results" target="_blank">Should We Ditch the Office? Survey</a>, 28% of respondents named the improvement in focus/productivity as one of the top 3 things about working from home. And 76% reported feeling as productive, if not more so, at home (compared to in the office).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/job-roles-productivity-transparent-1.png?ssl=1"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-attachment-id="17289" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/job-roles-productivity-transparent-1/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/job-roles-productivity-transparent-1.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="job-roles-productivity-transparent-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/job-roles-productivity-transparent-1.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/job-roles-productivity-transparent-1.png?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="Different job roles working from home" class="wp-image-17289" /></a></figure>



In this blog, we explore the data further, to see whether there are any correlations between certain job roles and productivity at home. We also share some top tips to help boost your team’s productivity when working remotely, whatever role they&#8217;re in.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://hubblehq.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1140" height="127" data-attachment-id="20240" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/anywhereanytime-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/anywhereanytime.png?fit=3750%2C417&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="3750,417" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="anywhereanytime" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/anywhereanytime.png?fit=1024%2C114&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/anywhereanytime.png?resize=1140%2C127&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-20240" /></a></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The impact of WFH on productivity levels&nbsp;</h2>



A <a href="https://edubirdie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/wfh_will_stick_v5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> of 16,000 participants found that remote employees were 13% more productive in their day-to-day roles than office-based staff.



A likely reason for this is that working from home can improve flexibility around schedules, so employees can work when they are most productive—consequently producing higher quality work, in less time.&nbsp;



Also, the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/impact-of-commute-time-on-work-preferences" target="_blank">lack of commute</a> means employees that work from home save, on average, 8.5 hours a week when not travelling. That’s 408 hours a year! For many employees, this gives them more time to spend with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or taking care of personal matters, which can help to lessen the mental load. Respondents in our survey also cited more time to exercise, cook and do ‘life admin’ among the perks of working from home.&nbsp;



Furthermore, working in a comfortable home environment can help to lower stress. And stress has long been acknowledged to harm <a href="https://www.breathehr.com/productivity-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">employee productivity</a> by reducing an individual’s ability to concentrate and multi-task.



Although, it’s important to recognise that not everyone has a comfortable, productive home environment. In fact, in our <a href="https://hubblehq.com/should-we-ditch-the-office/survey-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a>, 24% of respondents found home rife with distractions. And 34% stated that poor work-life balance was one of the worst things about permanent home working.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Do employees in certain job roles find it easier to be productive when WFH than others?</h2>



We decided to dig deeper into the data to see whether there were any correlations between specific job roles and where people felt most productive.&nbsp;



As you can see from the graph below, on average, every job role reported feeling more productive at home compared to in the office—but the proportion was particularly high among certain job types, such as marketing/PR (56%), tech (58%) and general management (55%). A possible explanation for this is that these job roles may require more deep-focused work, for example, coding or writing. Therefore, working in a home environment where they are less likely to be distracted by their colleagues might help with their productivity.



Similarly, 52% of those in sales or business development roles stated they were more productive at home, compared to 26% who felt as productive in both, and only 22% who felt more productive in the office. This data may actually counter common assumptions that loud and busy sales environments are critical to productivity.


<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="17291" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/2020/11/23/job-roles-productivity-levels-wfh/do-you-feel-more-productive-at-home-or-in-the-office_-3/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/do-you-feel-more-productive-at-home-or-in-the-office_-3.png?fit=1416%2C928&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1416,928" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Do you feel more productive at home or in the office_ (3)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/do-you-feel-more-productive-at-home-or-in-the-office_-3.png?fit=1024%2C671&amp;ssl=1" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17291" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/do-you-feel-more-productive-at-home-or-in-the-office_-3.png?resize=1140%2C747&#038;ssl=1" alt="Do you feel more productive at home or in the office_ (3)" width="1140" height="747">


On the flip side, a larger proportion of people in operations (31%), general management (29%) and HR (25%) roles stated that they felt more productive in the office compared to their colleagues. A likely reason for this is the nature of these job roles requiring more in-person meetings and collaboration.



We can also see a more even split among respondents in finance roles, with 39% saying they felt more productive at home, 36% the same in both, and 25% more productive in the office. 



It can be helpful to bear these trends in mind if you’re a company with a high proportion of a certain type of employee. Having said that, many other factors might impact a person’s productivity, so it’s crucial to consider individual circumstances and create a <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/flexible-working-policy-considerations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flexible workplace strategy</a> that helps everyone do their best work.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to boost employee productivity when working from home&nbsp;</h2>



No matter the composition of your company, there are many ways you can tweak processes to help your employees reach their full potential, wherever they are. After all, before March 2020, working from home was a relatively unknown concept for many—meaning that we’ve all had a lot of changes to get used to.



Here are some top tips to help your employees do their best work wherever they are:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Equip your team with the best tools</h2>



Companies need to ensure that employees have the tools they need to do their job effectively from wherever they’re working. This will usually include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>A fast Internet connection&nbsp;</li>



<li>File sharing software</li>



<li>Video conferencing for team meetings</li>



<li>Collaboration software</li>



<li>An ergonomic chair&nbsp;</li>



<li>Furthermore, UK Health and Safety laws require employers to conduct a <a href="https://search.hubblehq.com/home-working-assessment/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=wjr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DSE assessment</a> (Display Screen Equipment) workstation risk assessment for their employees who are working from home on a long-term basis. It’s important to carry out this assessment to help diagnose and minimise the risk to the wellbeing of employees. </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Share your schedules</h2>



Urge your employees to block out hours on their calendar, including personal time; whether it’s for sorting through emails or <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/childcare-wfh-experience">looking after kids</a>.&nbsp;



And share your schedules with your team. As a manager, building transparency around your own schedule can help to increase trust, and it encourages your team to be more intentional about communicating their availability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Have better meetings, less often&nbsp;</h2>



If everyone on your team is working slightly different hours, scheduling meetings will be much harder to do. But, you can use this as an opportunity to make your meetings more efficient and effective:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Get rid of low value meetings—if attendance is low, people are distracted, or leaving meetings with questions, then cut or reconsider whether those meetings are worth having.</li>



<li>Plan for important meetings, and share a schedule a day or two in advance, so people come to the meeting prepared.</li>



<li>Appoint a meeting coordinator to keep an eye on the time and ensure that all attendees have an opportunity to contribute.</li>



<li>Try cutting all meetings down to half an hour. This will force you to only focus on the important stuff. </li>



<li>End on time! If time runs out, schedule more time that works for the team.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rethink trust</h2>



When employees work from home, trust is more important than ever. Workers can’t rely on impromptu water-cooler chats, body language and in-person meetings to untangle mixed messages or soften feedback.&nbsp;



It’s time to move away from the traditional notions of presenteeism, and trust that employees are working even when you can’t see them. And try to avoid micromanaging!


<a href="https://hubblehq.com/workplace-strategy?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=wjr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="100" data-attachment-id="17041" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/cta-hubble/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cta-hubble.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,100" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="cta-hubble" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cta-hubble.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" class="wp-image-17041" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cta-hubble.png?resize=900%2C100&#038;ssl=1" alt="" /></a>

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Which Job Roles Are More Productive When Working From Home?

Companies of all shapes and sizes are trying to work out how they want to work in the future. It’s no mean feat: every employee has different needs and preferences, meaning that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the workspace puzzle.&nbsp;



When it comes to finding the best strategy for your company, the most valuable thing you can do is communicate regularly with your employees, and find out how they want to work.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/survey-your-team-transparent.png?ssl=1"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-attachment-id="17063" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/survey-your-team-transparent/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/survey-your-team-transparent.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="survey-your-team-transparent" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/survey-your-team-transparent.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/survey-your-team-transparent.png?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-17063" /></a></figure>



In the future, we truly believe that the companies who listen to their employees’ needs will be the ones who thrive—not only because their team members feel valued (and consequently, more productive), but also because they’ll be much better placed to hire the best talent in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not enough employees are being asked how they want to work</h2>



The problem is, most employers aren’t talking to their workers. As Perkbox highlighted in their <a href="https://www.perkbox.com/uk/resources/blog/what-does-the-future-hold-for-employees">recent survey</a>, less than a third of employers have actually asked their employees how they wish to work in the future.&nbsp;



This stat is concerning. In our <a href="https://hubblehq.com/should-we-ditch-the-office/survey-results">Should We Ditch the Office? Survey</a>, it was clear that everyone has had different experiences of home working during the pandemic—meaning that any rash decisions on future policies (whether it be ordering everyone back to the office to declaring your company fully-remote) could seriously impact employees’ wellbeing and productivity.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Our investigations also found that there are significant differences between <a href="https://hubblehq.com/blog/future-of-work-different-age-groups">how employees of different generations have found working from home</a>. This is crucial information; with a much higher proportion of Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers in positions of seniority than their Gen Z counterparts, what’s best for some may be different from what’s best for those affected by their decisions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">One survey isn’t enough</h2>



Of course, many companies are speaking to their employees. One common way of doing so is via a survey.



A survey is an excellent way of gathering key data. We recommend using one to get insights around your team members’ working environments, challenges, and future preferences.&nbsp;



With the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://hubblehq.com/workplace-strategy?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=llg" target="_blank">HubbleHQ Workplace Strategy Tool</a>, we make it easy for you to do this; we’ve carefully curated the questions so that you get the answers you need. You’ll also have a dashboard in which you can instantly see your team&#8217;s results, plus expert advisors on hand to help you configure a workplace strategy that&#8217;s right for your employees—whether that involves giving them better home working equipment or <a href="https://hubblehq.com/pass" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passes to local coworking spaces</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://hubblehq.com/workplace-strategy"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-attachment-id="16844" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/?attachment_id=16844" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/workplace-strategy-tool-transparent.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="workplace-strategy-tool-transparent" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/workplace-strategy-tool-transparent.png?fit=900%2C600&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/workplace-strategy-tool-transparent.png?resize=900%2C600&#038;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-16844" /></a></figure>



But once you’ve done one survey, it&#8217;s important to keep up the habit. As we all know, this is a turbulent time—and the circumstances in which people are working change so often that how they felt a few months, weeks, or even days ago may well be different to how they feel now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Changing circumstances</h2>



At the beginning of the pandemic, for instance, some employees found working from home quite a &#8220;treat&#8221;—especially those working in businesses or industries where flexible working arrangements were rare or frowned upon.&nbsp;



But 6+ months in, the novelty may be wearing off for some employees—social isolation might feel more acute now, and new challenges may have surfaced.



On the flip side, those who felt extra-isolated at the beginning of the crisis may now have developed new habits or be part of &#8220;social bubbles&#8221; that make the experience more bearable. Likewise, parents who struggled to juggle childcare and work when the schools were closed may have felt less of a burden when term recommenced.



Google re-surveyed their team on working preferences—and opinions had changed



As proof of how quickly preferences can change, Google recently <a href="https://twitter.com/lifeatgoogle/status/1308529123984203778">shared on Twitter</a> the results of their own internal survey, which revealed that the proportion of employees who wanted to stay working remotely forever had halved between May and July.&nbsp;



They also found that the proportion who wanted to go back into the office part-time had grown slightly in the same period.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/csHJqHoX9LQKWQ4kvwePcfNCIhQ8j2VbGpRmZWaHo-yxD_2zGHUeWyyAblH4I-0_WnMatPbJBBzDUXp9dxr5MHwS2EwqiuiYZ78JXVSdVXMlutm8OUVKF1h6Oio6DMl00D3bRXPD" alt="" /></figure>



These changes show how preferences can change even in a very short period of time, and the danger of relying on old data to make future plans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep checking in with your team</h2>



If you&#8217;ve already asked your team how they want to work in the future, that&#8217;s fantastic. But it’s important to remember that there are so many things that can change an employee’s experience of working from home, and it’ll take some time for all of the influential factors to be understood.&nbsp;



As such, it&#8217;s important to continually check in with your team and be agile with your working practices. With the <a href="https://hubblehq.com/workplace-strategy?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=llg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HubbleHQ Workplace Strategy Tool</a>, you can keep surveying your team members as often as you like, and all of the results will remain easily accessible and comparable via your company dashboard.



Not only will you have clear, actionable insights to inform your future strategy, but your employees will thrive in the knowledge that their needs are being listened to. Try the Tool now:


<a href="https://hubblehq.com/workplace-strategy?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=llg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="100" data-attachment-id="16897" data-permalink="https://blog.hubblehq.com/get-started-blog-3/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/get-started-blog.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,100" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="get-started-blog" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/get-started-blog.png?fit=900%2C100&amp;ssl=1" class="wp-image-16897" src="https://i0.wp.com/blog.hubblehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/get-started-blog.png?resize=900%2C100&#038;ssl=1" alt=""></a>

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You Need To Ask Your Employees How THEY Want to Work (BTW: One Survey Is Not Enough)

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Financial Contributions to Home Working: What Should Employers Provide for Their Employees?

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How Bumble, Oddbox, Beamery & Koru Kids are Solving the Hybrid Workplace Puzzle

Which Job Roles Are More Productive When Working From Home?

You Need To Ask Your Employees How THEY Want to Work (BTW: One Survey Is Not Enough)

Financial Contributions to Home Working: What Should Employers Provide for Their Employees?