A brand new examine claims that hybrid working is resulting in a more healthy workforce, with extra time being devoted to train, sleep and wholesome consuming. Analysis amongst greater than 2,000 hybrid staff by IWG means that the time saved by decreased commuting has led to a number of well being and wellbeing advantages together with weight reduction, higher cooking habits, improved psychological well being and an extended night time’s sleep.
The common hybrid employee is now getting 4.7 hours of train per week, in comparison with 3.4 hours earlier than the pandemic, with the commonest types of train being strolling, working and energy coaching. They’re additionally sleeping longer, with the extra time in mattress every morning equating to 71 additional hours – or three days – of kip a 12 months.
Consuming habits have additionally dramatically improved. 70 % stated hybrid working provides them the time to arrange a wholesome breakfast every single day since hybrid working, whereas greater than half (54 %) have extra time to spend cooking nutritious meals through the week. Employees are consuming extra contemporary fruit and greens (46 % and 44 % respectively), and one fifth (20 %) are consuming extra fish. 1 / 4 have additionally lower their consumption of sweets since pre-2020 as effectively.
Extra train, higher sleep and more healthy consuming has, unsurprisingly, led to greater than 1 / 4 (27 %) of staff saying they’ve misplaced weight for the reason that begin of the pandemic. Two in 5 (42 %) have misplaced between 5 and 9.9kgs, whereas a exceptional 23 % have misplaced greater than 10Kg). The largest drivers of weight reduction have been elevated time for train (65 %) and extra time to prepare dinner wholesome meals (54 %).
IWG, which incorporates manufacturers Areas and Regus, has partnered with NHS GP Dr. Sara Kayat, an advocate of the advantages of an lively and wholesome way of life and believes hybrid working can release time to provide staff a serving to hand. Dr Kayat stated: “There isn’t a doubt that hybrid working has facilitated some main well being advantages. A balanced weight loss plan, bodily exercise and good high quality sleep are the bedrocks of a wholesome way of life, and this knowledge suggests that every is extra widespread as a result of additional time afforded by a hybrid working mannequin.”
“Stress administration and social connections are additionally extremely vital to psychological wellbeing. A wholesome work/life stability is crucial to reaching these, permitting individuals to work nearer to house and make extra time for household, associates and stress-busting hobbies”.
Fitter, happier, extra productive
Hybrid working has seen growing numbers of workplace staff splitting their time between house, an area workspace and metropolis centre HQ, dramatically, decreasing their commutes within the course of and saving a number of hours a day.
Hybrid working can also be delivering productiveness features. Nearly 4 in 5 (79 %) say they’ve been extra productive since pre-2020 on account of much less work-related stress (47 %) and having extra time to chill out and unwind after work (46 %). Analysis from Nicholas Bloom, an economist at Stanford Graduate Faculty of Enterprise, general productiveness is up 3 % to 4 % resulting from hybrid working, displaying a tangible profit for each companies and workers.
With elevated productiveness at work and extra free time exterior of labor, it’s no shock that two thirds (66 %) really feel that their psychological well being is nice on account of the shift to hybrid working. 81 % say they really feel they’ve had extra private time in comparison with pre-2020 and the bulk spend this time selling their well being and wellbeing by spending time with household and associates (55 %) and exercising (52 %) or taking a brief stroll through the day (67 %), all of which have a constructive knock-on impact on psychological well being.
Mark Dixon, CEO of IWG stated, “This examine confirms what we’ve been seeing for some time now – how hybrid working is constructing and sustaining a more healthy and happier workforce by decreasing the necessity for lengthy each day commutes. Providing hybrid working is such an vital and simple approach for companies to place their staff first by liberating up their time and giving them higher management over their schedules. Organisations that have adopted hybrid working aren’t solely seeing more healthy and happier workforces, however extra engaged and productive groups.”
