Recruitment solutions for business success tip #5: think local

Hybrid working is here to stay and it’s increasingly what your current and future potential employees are going to demand. Just as the Covid-19 pandemic provided a window into what people’s work-life balance could be like when working from home, at the same time, it showed them in real terms the savings in both time and money by removing their commute to work. So how can you meet your employee’s needs, quite literally, in the middle? The increasingly popular solution lies in moving business away from city centre locations and basing it in one or more local offices hubs, to lessen staff commute times and the costs involved, whilst maintaining onsite teams. Is it time you considered decentralising your business operations as a way to help boost your staff retention and offer prospects their ideal set up?

Long commutes are out, local is in

A recent survey found a staggering 79% of employees named the lack of commute as one of the key benefits of working from home. So, what has turned employees off the commute?

The first key saving of cutting out a commute is money, according to research by Total Jobs, with the average UK employee spending more than £135,000 on commuting by the time they reach retirement. This cost saving will not only boost employees’ wallets, but could have knock on effects, increasing their standard of living by increasing their disposable income.

Helping to improve employee wellbeing and productivity

Leading on from this, the time savings can also help to generate a higher level of wellbeing among employees as they will have more time to spend pursuing hobbies, being with friends and family or simply relaxing. The removal of the pressure and stress of the commute could further boost mental and physical health, reducing absences and improving productivity as a result.

Reducing the commute barrier

Interestingly, recent reports also suggest that employees want to work in an office, to have interaction with other team members and a different vibe but remain local to their home. So, there is a growing demand for local office branches, so that workers can achieve a greater work-life balance. For those with children, it means that they can help partake in day-to-day family life, for example, being able to pick up children from school or run errands on their lunch break – which also helps to encourage women back into the workplace.

All evidence points to businesses needing to look towards a restructuring of their physical premises, by considering smaller local hubs where possible over larger city-based divisions. And by adjusting their requirements for staff to be in the office full time to providing their employees with greater flexibility, by offering hybrid working practices that still maintain a collaborative and supportive workplace.

Most of our customers live within 5 miles of our business centres, which are strategically placed close to city centres and great transport routes, providing our customers with a convenient, local workspace for them and their employees. Consider undertaking staff surveys or discussing individually with your staff what working arrangements they would prefer. Our flexible licences enable you to test how this concept works for you and your employees, without having to commit long term.

If you are looking for a workspace, close to where you live, please get in touch.