Hygiene concerns leave 1,000s anxious about work return

As lockdown measures begin to ease, many UK office workers are concerned about going back to the office - with worries rife over being able to maintain social distancing (59 per cent) and appropriate hygiene and cleaning standards (44 per cent).  

That is according to new research, commissioned by IWFM, who surveyed office workers across the country to reveal that 34 per cent are concerned about getting used to a corporate office culture again after the lockdown. 

Publicised as the government looks to assemble ‘Back to Work’ Guidelines for a range of sectors, the research found that despite these concerns - 49 per cent of the UK’s employees now working from home are looking forward to getting back to the office.

A working-from-home model has presented significant challenges to the workforce, including: 41 per cent report having an inappropriate working environment at home; 50 per cent reporting finding it difficult to stay motivated and focused when working from home; 38 per cent find it hard to switch off at the end of the day and 25 per cent feeling pressure to respond to emails after working hours.

Chris Moriarty, director of Insight at the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, said: "As lockdown measures begin to ease, government and business attention is turning to the mammoth task of how, and when, to get employees across the UK safely back to work. Ensuring cleanliness and distance between colleagues will be high on the agenda – as will managing the implications of a workforce coming out of lockdown under increased levels of stress and anxiety. 

"Yet there are wider challenges at play – it would be naïve to assume that ‘business as usual’ will look the same post-crisis, and many are considering the long-term implications of this national experiment in home working.  Businesses looking to cut costs, or respond to increased employee demand for flexible working, need also consider the implications to the nation’s productivity of allowing employees to work from home without investing in an adequate home-working environment."

The research was conducted by IWFM as part of its ‘Return to the Workplace’ campaign, which will cumulate in June with a report on the impact of the coronavirus crisis on UK employees.