Just two in five staff are working full time in the office, leaving junior staff warning that they are missing out on the opportunity to acquire vital skills, a major report has found.
The poll on working habits, published in the Telegraph this morning, revealed that only 40%of employees are currently working five days a week in the office.
Nearly half (45%) of 18 to 24-year-old workers said that they “always” or “frequently” felt lonely if half their working week was spent at home.
Younger staff members also feared they were learning less “critical skills” which are vital for career progression and promotions.
Those working in the office for four days a week enjoyed better communication with colleagues for tasks and projects. They are much more likely to find that their colleagues are able to react quickly to their ideas and the suggestions that they make.
Commuting time, the cost of eating out for lunch and other expenses are the biggest barriers to working full time at the office, said researchers in the report from Ipsos Karian and Box, which provides specialist expertise on the workplace.
Overall, the survey found that employees who spend three days a week in the office are “more likely to have career development conversations with their manager” and “generate new ideas”.
Ghassan Karian, chief executive of Ipsos Karian and Box, said: “In the responses to our survey, three days in the office came out as the optimum solution.
“It strikes the right balance that realises the benefits of office working for both employer and employee, while also giving individuals the ability to think, work and manage their home lives in a flexible way.”
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