Workplace wellbeing: Why hybrid working is here to stay 

With research showing remote working is key to attracting and retaining staff, a return to the daily commute is unlikely. So how can we manage the new home-office flexible model?

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: In a recent survey, 76% said working from home made their jobs easier and 96% said it made their lives easier. Picture: iStock 

When we packed up our office supplies to work from home in March 2020, we assumed it was a temporary measure. We had no idea that two years later, many of us would be asking ourselves if we wanted to return to the office at all.

The pandemic shifted our priorities. That’s according to Microsoft’s 2022 Work Trend Index. This study of 31,000 workers from 31 countries found that 52% were more likely to value health and wellbeing over work than they were pre-pandemic. And 47% were more likely to put family and personal life before work.