The phenomenon of hybrid working and working from home has brought with it a unique set of benefits to workers including flexibility, an improved work-life balance and in some circumstances, financial savings.

However, alongside this, there are a number of distinct challenges that employers need to consider as the economy continues to navigate the effects of a more hybrid landscape.

The Chartered Institute for Professional Development (CIPD) has found that the number of sick days being taken by workers is at a ten year high, underscoring the need for employers to treat physical and mental health as a business critical priority.

Whether practical concerns or otherwise, employers need to be cognisant of the pressures and challenges facing their employees who work in a hybrid fashion.

Mental health impacted by relative isolation

A key issue that often arises during discussions regarding hybrid working is its impact on the mental health of employees. In a traditional office environment, casual interactions and human relationships form a core part of the benefits and culture of a workplace.

In the present day, with so many people spending prolonged periods of time working away from the office, the importance of these interactions on employees’ mental health can be overlooked.

This is particularly salient when considering the younger workforce, with nearly one third of those aged 16-24 years old in the UK reporting that they had experienced depression or anxiety. Owing to the widespread nature of hybrid working, many people in this age category will have only known hybrid working in their careers to date (and of course experienced isolation during the pandemic as a result of prolonged periods of lockdown).

Businesses have a vested interest in combatting the mental health challenges posed by hybrid working. Engaged and supported employees are likely to be more productive, so implementing strategies to ensure the positive mental health of workers is supported wholeheartedly will lead to high retention rates and far more productive work.

In this sense, maintaining communication with employees is key. Regular scheduled and one-on-one check-ins and providing regular opportunities for social interaction and team building is essential to ensure that employees do not feel isolated.

Physical health strained from makeshift home setups

Despite the popularity of hybrid working, it is a relatively new phenomenon. As such, many people are unaware of the impact that working from home can have on your physical health. Firstly, many home offices lack a proper ergonomic set up and are not designed appropriately.

Where offices are designed with productivity and employee health in mind, through the use of adjustable desks, properly positioned screens and ergonomic chairs, home environments are often not designed with these same aims in mind.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of prolonged sitting as well. While working from home as part of the hybrid working dynamic, it is far too common that employees could go hours without leaving their desk. Prolonged sitting is closely associated with health conditions such as DVT, musculoskeletal issues and a slowing metabolism. In more serious cases, studies have linked prolonged inactivity with obesity, diabetes and cancer.

Given that employers expect the same level of productivity from home workers and should be invested in the long-term health of their employees, it is important that appropriate and sensible interventions are put into place.

A measure that can be implemented to support the physical health of employees is guidelines to improve and/or set minimum compliance standards for their working from home set up. This should include measures to address ergonomics, lighting and ventilation. Where possible, providing appropriate chairs and monitors can also be considered and guidelines should be regularly reassessed to ensure they meet the needs of workers.

Embracing hybrid working

While addressing the mental and physical health concerns of employees may seem daunting, it is a crucial step in ensuring long-term employee retention and productivity. The notion of communication and transparency between employer and employee is vital but this must come alongside practical measures to support workers.

Guidelines and assets to ensure that those following a hybrid working pattern are critically aware that the accommodations they can make to their working environment are vital to their individual physical and mental health. Alongside this, assessing these measures on an ongoing basis allows employees to continue to experience the dual benefits that many gain from working from home and the office.

While challenges are inevitable, a large cohort of workers report that a hybrid working model is beneficial to their mental health owing to flexibility and other benefits. With this in mind, abandoning hybrid working models is not the answer, but rather the focus should centre on making hybrid working sustainable from a mental health, physical health and business productivity perspective.