New analysis has found that on average hybrid working employees deliver nearly two extra weeks of work a year for their employer as well as working harder and better in a hybrid environment. 

The results of the analysis — which shows the benefits of hybrid working for organisations — are a combination of academic research and studies by global workplace consultancy Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA). They are included in AWA’s latest report, ‘Why Employers Benefit From Hybrid Working’, which also found that employees often work better when in a distraction-free environment, with more than half their time dedicated to working alone or focussed work.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, in the US, has found that workers not going into an office save on average 72 minutes a day from not having to commute. Of this time, they dedicate 28.8 minutes to additional work. AWA’s Hybrid Working Index, a global study of 220 offices in 33 countries, representing nearly 250,000 employees, during October and November 2022, revealed that employees are working from home an average of 3.5 days a week.

Bringing those studies together would suggest that employees with flexible arrangements work an additional 101 minutes, or 1.7 hours, a week. Over a typical working year of approximately 45 weeks, this would equate to 75.6 extra hours of work, or just over 9.5 days, assuming an eight-hour day — that’s nearly two whole extra work weeks.

Andrew Mawson, Managing Director of AWA, said: “Employers benefit from hybrid working because they get happier, more focussed and more productive teams and can pay lower wages for flexibility while saving on office costs and CO2 emissions. We appreciate that the most senior leaders in businesses will need to change their approach to leadership, which for some will not be easy, but it is time for CEOs to embrace modern, flexible, hybrid working.”

According to AWA, organisations that embrace hybrid working have the potential to reduce their real estate footprint by using their offices more efficiently – and may have the opportunity to sublet space or move to small offices when their leases are up. There is also likely carbon reduction from better use of existing offices and the reduction in emissions from fewer people commuting.

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