How does sickness absence compare for hybrid, remote and office workers?

With the rise of hybrid and remote working, and increasing numbers of organisations pushing for a return to the office, how does sickness absence compare across workers who are hybrid, remote or office-based?

Sickness absence amongst hybrid, remote and office-based employees

According to a study by Vitality, hybrid workers who split their time between home and office tend to experience fewer work days lost to sickness.

The research found that hybrid workers lost an average of 47.8 days of productive time to health concerned – which includes just 4.9 days which were due to formal absence.

This is compared to an average of 50 days and 6.1 days of formal absence for employees across the board.

Remote workers experienced higher sickness absence than both their hybrid and office-based counterparts, with 50.8 days of productive time lost to sickness, including a high 9.6 days lost to formal absences.

Why is sickness absence lower amongst hybrid workers?

Mental and physical wellbeing

The study found that both hybrid and office workers tend to experience better physical and mental health than their fully-remote counterparts.

For example, 87.4% of those working from home suffered from at least one musculoskeletal condition, vs only 79.9% of hybrid workers and 78.3% of office workers.

Only 20% of hybrid workers are obese, vs 25.2% of fully remote employees. Around 46% of hybrid and office workers both report being able to consume at least five fruit and vegetables per day too, vs just 37.5% of home workers.

The data also reveals that hybrid workers are less likely to suffer from depression, with just 8.1% being affected, compared with 10.4% of office workers and 12.1% of those working from home full-time.

Workplace wellbeing programmes

The study found that hybrid workers are more likely to engage with benefits offered by employers – perhaps due to their limited time spent in the office, they are more inclined to make the most use of what’s available to them. This includes being just as likely as office-based workers to participate in initiatives such as free healthy breakfasts, and being the most likely group to participate in physical activities such as company-wide step or exercise challenges.

On average, hybrid workers’ participation in healthcare interventions was 31%, compared with 23% for home workers and only 28% for in the office full-time.

The research also showed that hybrid workers are likely to actively seek information on the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating from their employer than their fully remote and office colleagues.

Overall, employees who engage with these sorts of initiatives lose 15-20% less productive time on average than those who don’t, showing the importance of employer provisions when it comes to health and wellbeing benefits.

Why does workplace flexibility matter when it comes to sickness absence?

The are several advantages to hybrid working. It’s worth employers taking note, as many of the benefits ultimately contribute to a lower sickness absence rate and higher productivity. For example, hybrid employees can:

Enjoy a better work-life balance
Use their time during the day and week more efficiently
Feel less burnout or fatigue at work
Have more freedom to choose when and where they work
Be more productive

In turn, organisations that offer hybrid working can see:

Reduced burnout or fatigue
Improved retention
Greater productivity levels
Have access to a bigger talent pool
Be able to improve their employee value proposition

Be able to improve their employee value proposition

What does workplace flexibility look like now, and in the future?

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Sickness Absence Compare for Hybrid, Remote and Office Workers

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