A large majority of UK business leaders plan to offer employees remote and hybrid working in the long-term, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).

A survey conducted by the IoD found that 84% of business leaders polled plan to provide office-based staff members with some degree of remote working. The IoD’s survey was conducted between 13 and 30 September 2023 and received 710 responses.

13% of business leaders stated they plan to offer full remote working in the long-term, whilst 18% said they will allow employees to choose how they work.

 Alexandra Hall-Chen, Principal Policy Adviser for Employment at the IoD, said:

‘Our research shows that, for a clear majority of businesses, remote and hybrid working are here to stay.

‘Against a backdrop of acute skills and labour shortages in the UK, flexible working is a valuable tool for businesses seeking to attract and retain talented staff.

‘Good flexible working policies can also support groups more likely to fall out of the workforce, such as parents and disabled people, to thrive in the workplace.

‘Anecdotally, we have found that some businesses are moving away from a model marked by full flexibility to a hybrid approach, due to a desire to bring staff together to facilitate innovation and team cohesion, but very few are removing their remote working offer entirely.’

Internet link: IoD website