Source: hcamag.com
‘By reducing the strain of long daily commutes, workers can better manage their existing health conditions, access preventative care, and reduce stress’
Hybrid work is the way to go for companies looking to help improve their workers’ health and overall wellness, according to a recent report.
Over two in five (44%) workers take fewer sick days in the hybrid model, and 71% experience fewer stress-related healthcare conditions, including severe headaches, digestive issues, and tension-related pain.
This is the case as 73% say flexible and hybrid work arrangements enable preventative healthcare treatments, including regular screenings and check-ups, finds the International Workplace Group (IWG).
On the mental health side, the reduced time spent on long daily commutes is cited as a key factor in helping to reduce overall stress levels for 79% of hybrid workers, which is also providing employees with a better work-life balance and reduced feelings of anxiety (78%).
“Hybrid working models are offering employees not only greater flexibility but also tangible health benefits,” says Sara Kayat, a UK-based doctor involved in the study with IWG. “By reducing the physical and mental strain of long daily commutes, workers are able to better manage their existing health conditions, access preventative care, and reduce stress. This is not only improving their overall wellbeing but also helping businesses by reducing the costs associated with absenteeism and burnout.”
Work-life balance has now emerged as a top workplace priority, overtaking pay, according to a previous Randstad report.
Hybrid work and business success
Hybrid work has also been great for business, according to IWG’s survey of 1,003 hybrid workers across Canada, conducted in May.
Three in four senior leaders say hybrid work has led to improved productivity in the workplace. And 63% of high-growth companies work hybrid.
“Businesses are increasingly witnessing the benefits of hybrid working, not just in terms of productivity but also in employee wellbeing. Long daily commutes to far-away offices have long been a major source of stress,” says Terri Pozniak, EVP, country manager Canada, IWG.
“By providing professional workspaces closer to home, we’re helping people address the challenges and loneliness of working from home while also freeing them from the grind of long and expensive daily commutes. Working from a variety of locations—including a local office, home, and head office—gives employees the flexibility they need to support both their physical and mental health.”
Canada leads the global shift to home-based work, according to a previous report from the Gensler Research Institute.
How can employers maximize hybrid work?
Here’s how employers can get the most out of hybrid work while ensuring it works for workers, according to HR experts Alex Link and Cillian Dore:
- Ensure leaders are leading by example.
- Create a playbook, which is essential for building consistency, efficiency, knowledge transfer, and on-demand support for your employees and leaders.
- Utilise the right tools.
- Consider providing flexibility to workers.
- Establish ground rules and encourage active participation in meetings.
- Be intentional about together days.