Research: 26% of UK businesses to close or downsize offices post-pandemic

Over a quarter (26%) of businesses in the UK will either close, downsize, or consolidate their offices over the coming months, as organizations look to embrace a hybrid working model in the post-pandemic world.

According to research by YouGov for HR tech firm Applaud, covered exclusively by City AM, over half (53%) of organizations are planning to offer more flexible or remote working policies to employees.

At the same time, 30% are expecting to welcome employees in the office between one and three days a week.

According to the findings, only 14% of organizations are not expecting workers to return to the workplace at all after the pandemic.

Interestingly, over a third (35%) of businesses surveyed are planning to create an employee engagement role separately from HR.

Employee rewards

Respondents to the survey also said they wanted to spend significant resources to reward workers for their working during the duration of the pandemic.

Some 18% of organizations said they would look to give workers better pay and,or, promotions over the coming months.

Some 46% of respondents said they would also establish better remote working tools to ensure continued engagement and productivity in the remote working world — which is likely to be good news for employees after a recent survey found that many were frustrated and overwhelmed by poor and disjointed workplace technology.