The “where to work” battle has continued for the past year or so. In the red corner, we have companies insisting that employees return to the office. In the blue corner, we have employees resisting this return to the past, preferring to work from home.
Without wanting to jinx the logical solution to this messy affair, it seems like most companies and employees have come to agree on a middle ground — hybrid working. But does the evidence back this work culture change? And what should teams aspire to deliver a healthy, productive hybrid working model? Let’s explore…
There is no shortage of evidence to suggest that the hybrid working model is here to stay. Here’s a recap of research published by the UK Parliament:
Companies that want their workforce to return to the office full-time are fighting a losing battle. Although there are potential challenges to navigate (such as keeping staff engaged and building a digital work culture), the benefits of hybrid working are too strong to cast aside:
Over half of Britons said they worked longer hours when they had to work from home during the pandemic. Of the 8,000+ samples, an alarming 25% of professionals reported working more than 10 extra hours. Psychologically, it makes sense. Amid widespread job insecurity and layoffs, employees may have felt pressured to “prove” their worth by working even harder.
Managers must avoid fostering an unhealthy culture that leads employees to compete with colleagues over work hours, risking cross-company burnout. Some companies may even seek to reward employees for using their annual leave entitlement and completing their work within the contracted work hours.
Office small talk gets a bad rep for being tiresome, but it also has its upsides. How so? Conversations over lunch or between meetings help employees to integrate with their teams and share key information to progress with projects. Maintain lines of communication whilst working remotely through regular team meetings and 1-1s via video call, as well as virtual happy hours to relax and get to know one another better.
Whether team members work from home 50%, 90%, or 10% of the time, everyone should have access to digital tools for instant communication, secure file storage, and project management. Many of these tools are free or available for professional teams at a reasonable cost.
Hands up—who just straightened their spine after reading this? Working at a computer has its perks, but perfect posture usually isn’t one of them. Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues such as back and neck pain have become increasingly common as more people spend long hours working from home.
Modern employers have long recognized the importance of ergonomic office setups—adjustable chairs, monitors, keyboards, and even standing desks. But with many employees now based at home, ensuring proper ergonomic support remains just as essential. Companies that overlook this investment risk higher rates of musculoskeletal pain and, ultimately, increased sick leave and reduced productivity.
Teladoc’s virtual physiotherapy service highlights that early intervention and personalised exercise plans can prevent many of these issues before they escalate—helping both employees and employers maintain long-term health and performance.
Yes, there will always be professions that need people to work at certain places at certain times. But for most, we’ve entered an era of flexibility. Companies that respect and trust their employees are rewarded more often than not. Giving team members as much autonomy as possible in choosing their work location is likely to increase productivity and long-term talent retention.
All in all, the hybrid working model seems to make sense for most companies. Upticks in productivity and employee wellbeing. Decreases in work absence and office maintenance costs. There’s plenty to embrace and celebrate. However, it’s also vital that employees working from home know how and where to get support.
That’s where Teladoc Health comes in. Organisations use Teladoc Health’s virtual care package to ensure their workers have access to wellbeing services that support their health, happiness, and fitness for work. Core services include:
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