The UK workforce is bending the workplace rulebook, expecting greater autonomy, innovative technology and benefits like the four-day week, according to hybrid meeting technology leader, Owl Labs, in its annual State of Hybrid Work Report.
The report, based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 full time employees across the UK, demonstrates that a flexibility-first approach is the main driver of career decisions and satisfaction at work. The majority (93%) of UK workers would take action if they were no longer allowed to work remotely or hybrid, while the top reason employees are looking for a new job is in pursuit of a better work/life balance, consistent with 2024 (50%) and up from 41% in 2023.
The traditional 9-to-5 office routine is no longer the default for the UK workforce. Instead, employees are calling for more flexible schedules and jobs that fit with the realities of their lives, with almost half (44%) prepared to reject any role that does not offer flexible hours. This boundary has become stricter in the last year; in 2024, 39% of employees said they would reject a job without flexible hours.
More than half (51%) now schedule personal appointments during work hours, with most (41%) taking up to an hour daily for these. Of those doing so, employees with caring responsibilities are more likely to consciously schedule appointments regularly during work hours (26%) compared to those without such responsibilities (17%).
