59% Of Employers Will Require Increased Office Attendance
Main Finding
New research conducted by NCG has found that 59% of employers plan to demand an increase in the number of days their staff spend in the office, compared to the last year
Other Findings
Other findings from the survey of 1002 senior decision makers were:-
- 31% regarded access to events and networking opportunities as the most important factor when selecting flexible workspace. Face-to-face interaction was also an extremely important consideration for many
- 65% stated that workspace technology was a crucial consideration in terms of successful collaboration and networking
- 24% report that their mobile / online platforms for booking meeting rooms and registering guests was inadequate
- 19% state that their platform for communicating with colleagues and disseminating information about workplace events was poor
Other Research
The findings about increased office attendance are consistent with calls by a number of high profile companies, as we highlighted in a recent article. Back in February, for instance, Dell decided to categorise its workers as either being hybrid or remote. Whereas hybrid workers would be required to attend the office on at least 39 days per quarter (which equates to 3 days a week), those who don’t will be classified as remote workers and will no longer be considered for promotion or a change of role.
Moreover, Boots has demanded that its support staff return to working a full 5 day working week in the office from this September. Furthermore, according to CNN, at IBM “Executives and managers will now be expected to be in-person at least three days a week, and remote workers living more than 50 miles from an office have until August to relocate closer.“
Comment
Commenting upon the findings, the CEO of NCG, Thomas Proctor, stated: "After years of remote working following the pandemic, many businesses are now insisting that their employees return to the office at least some of the time. What’s clear is that business leaders believe in-person interactions and collaboration are vital to their growth. The technology on offer in workspaces must, therefore, be of the highest standard, allowing businesses the freedom to connect without limitations. The fact that our research highlights that the technology laid out across an office building is of the highest importance to senior decision-makers shows investing in industry-leading solutions that are efficient and easy to use is essential."
Proctor adds: "Landlords and operators must make installing the best technology a non-negotiable if they are to meet the demands businesses now have for their office space. By using the best in class technology solutions, they can help landlords and operators set themselves apart in an already saturated market."
Most Employers Support Use Of AI In Background Checks
New Research
New research conducted by HireRight has found that 95% of EMEA employers would support the use of AI / automation in the completion of background checks. The main reasons for using it were to reduce the risks of human error (83%), speeding up the process (79%), enhancing the experience of applicants (64%), and reducing costs (48%).
Other Findings
Other findings from the report were:-
- Undisclosed criminal records and details about employment and education are amongst the main discrepancies identified during the screening process
- Over two-fifths of employers regard non-compliance as a major business risk factor
- Almost two-thirds of respondents anticipate that remote and hybrid working will remain more or less the same as at the end of 2024.
Comment
Commenting upon the findings, the Chief Revenue Officer at HireRight, Stephen Spears, stated: "The findings in HireRight’s 2024 Global Benchmark Report show that many aspects of background screening, recruitment, and workforce retention continue changing each year. With the insights shared in this report, businesses can better understand the shifting employment landscape and use our benchmarked data to help support their organizations’ future talent tactics and strategies."
