As the UK continues to work from home, research by Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey), a leader in agile experience management, reveals that nearly four in ten (39%) employees at medium-sized businesses want mandated COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure a safe return to the office full-time.

The research explores the changing experience for employees at small- and medium-sized British businesses. It highlights that employees are demanding more from their employers, with a four-day working week (39%: small-sized businesses, 45%: medium-sized businesses) unlimited holiday (33%, 45% respectively), and health insurance (34%, 35% respectively) all chosen as top benefits they would like to see introduced in the future that they don’t already have.*

Return to office hesitancy

There's ongoing uncertainty around when UK employees will likely return to the office due to the rise of the Omicron variant. Employers should be careful about instinctively returning to ‘old’ ways of working if they want to retain and attract staff. Nearly one-third (31%) of employees at small-sized businesses, and 42% of those at medium-sized businesses have admitted to being hesitant about returning to the office full-time. With concerns mounting about the new variant and over 100,000 cases in the UK, employers must act to ease employee concerns.

When the time comes, the top three actions an employer could take to make employees of medium-sized businesses feel more comfortable about returning to the office are:

• Mandated vaccinations for all employees (39%)
• Providing a larger office space to help with social distancing (36%) 
• Requiring all employees to shared their vaccination status (35%)

Employee preferences for the future of work                                                                                                                                    

Beyond providing a safe and flexible working environment, there are policies that employers can introduce to ease their current workforce’s concerns.

Gone are the days of beer-on-tap and ping pong tables for luring the best staff to work for you. In fact, having a bar in the office is the least desired benefit. Fully 72% at small-sized businesses and 63% of medium-sized businesses employees say it’s not a benefit they want or were ever offered. 

The top benefits that employees at small- and medium-sized businesses would like to see introduced in the future:

Small-sized Businesses 

4-day working week: 39%

Enhanced pension contributions: 39%

Health insurance: 34%

Unlimited Holiday: 33%

Mental Health support: 32%

Medium-sized Businesses

4-day working week: 45%

Unlimited Holiday 45%

Enhanced pension contributions: 38%

Gym membership: 35%

Health Insurance: 35%

A four-day work week came out as the top sought after benefit for both small- and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, employees listed enhanced pension contributions, unlimited holidays, mental health support, health insurance and gym memberships as other top desired benefits.

The research by Momentive also found that many British businesses increased mental health support during the pandemic. The number of British small businesses offering mental health support, counselling, and access to wellness apps increased from 10% to 21%. This number increased from 16% pre-pandemic to 34% now for medium-sized businesses.

Proximity bias is a concern

With the rise of flexible work, some staff are in the office and others are working remotely. Proximity bias—the idea that employees in close physical proximity are perceived as better workers—is a concern. This is the case both for employees of small- and medium-sized businesses. Nearly a quarter (22%) of employees at medium-sized businesses expressed concern that remote work would lead to missed opportunities or less consideration of their opinions. This number is 16% for those at small businesses. Moreover, a quarter admit they ask the opinion of those they work with in-person more than their remote colleagues: 24% for small businesses, 27% at medium-sized businesses.

The findings show that with the eventual return to office, employers should be careful about returning to ‘old’ ways if they want to keep staff. For instance, a larger number of employers are taking employee feedback into account. Positively, half of small- (46%) and medium-sized businesses (51%) said they've asked for regular feedback during the pandemic. The research shows that the changing work environment from the pandemic has led to employers listening more to what employees have to say. Fully 45% of small businesses employees strongly agree or agree with this and 54% of medium-sized businesses.

“Whilst many are eager to return to the office and see hybrid options, employers need to mind changing preferences,” says Graham Douglas, Managing Director of EMEA at Momentive. “This applies to safety protocols, benefits, mentorship opportunities, flexibility and more. Our research found that 69% of small businesses confirm they've never sent out employee surveys. This number is 55% at medium-sized businesses.  If you're not asking what employees need to be successful and productive, you will miss out on a unique chance to innovate for them and retain key talent."