# Almost a quarter of UK employees ‘haven’t missed anything’ about the workplace
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-07-26
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Over 20% of UK Employees Admit to Not Missing Workplace -
Meta Description: Nearly a quarter of UK employees surprisingly revealed that they do not miss anything about the workplace, according to a recent survey. Find out more about the
URL: https://financedigest.com/almost-a-quarter-of-uk-employees-havent-missed-anything-about-the-workplacehtml

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Almost a quarter of employees in the UK admitted to not missing anything about the workplace, according to new research by national property specialist Matthews & Goodman.

The survey asked more than 800 people what they missed most about the workplace: 24% responded with ‘nothing’ – the third most common response. What people missed most about the workplace was:

– Their friends and teammates at work (53%)

– [Small talk at the coffee machine or water](https://www.financedigest.com/a-missed-opportunity-research-reveals-that-while-small-finance-accounting-businesses-view-themselves-as-cost-savvy-most-arent-switching-water-suppliers-or-other-services.html "A missed opportunity: research reveals that while small finance & accounting businesses view themselves as cost-savvy, most aren’t switching water suppliers, or other services") cooler (27%)

David Laws, Partner at [Matthews & Goodman](https://www.matthews-goodman.co.uk/), said: “As restrictions continue to be lifted and more people return to the workplace, it’s surprising that some haven’t missed anything about being in the office, despite striving for a sense of normality following such an unpredictable and unprecedented year.

“One explanation for this might be the change in our perception of work. We now no longer see [work as a destination but an activity – one that can be done in an office](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-or-the-office-how-to-do-it-best.html "Working from home or the office – how to do it best"), at home, on the move, in a coffee bar, anywhere. In essence, [work is no longer](https://www.financedigest.com/remote-working-tips-to-help-it-last-longer.html "Remote working tips to help IT last longer") somewhere you go, but something you do. What our survey [reveals is that most people are now looking for a mixture of working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/august-the-most-popular-month-to-start-a-holiday-home-search-reveals-portal.html "AUGUST THE MOST POPULAR MONTH TO START A HOLIDAY HOME SEARCH REVEALS PORTAL") and in an office.”

Most participants (43%) would prefer a mixture of working at home and in the office, with 30% preferring to work from home all the [time and 26% happy for a full return](https://www.financedigest.com/ogrady-to-return-to-bank-of-ireland-as-ceo-irish-times.html "O’Grady to return to Bank of Ireland as CEO – Irish Times") to their workplace.

One respondent said: “Working in the workplace is more efficient…spending less [time](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-in-times-of-crisis.html "Working from home in times of crisis") on communication and having better executive facetime. [Working](https://www.financedigest.com/madrid-street-sweepers-death-prompts-curbs-on-heatwave-working-hours.html "Madrid street-sweeper’s death prompts curbs on heatwave working hours") from home is more suitable for family needs and flexible working hours”.

Another respondent commented: “I prefer [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/savile-row-designer-on-working-from-home-winter-attire.html "Savile Row Designer on Working From Home Winter Attire") but would find it useful to still have the option of seeing people face to face in the office”, while another one said: “I miss interacting with colleagues in person, but don’t enjoy the commute into the office”.

The survey also [addressed the issue of a blended workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/havensrock-thrive-app-launched-by-punter-southall-health-and-protection-to-address-workplace-mental-health-issues.html "Havensrock Thrive App launched by Punter Southall Health and Protection to address workplace mental health issues"). It [revealed that 55% of employees will be allowed to work from home following the pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/big-pharma-may-have-to-reveal-government-deals-in-whos-draft-pandemic-rules.html "Big Pharma may have to reveal government deals in WHO’s draft pandemic rules"). When a similar survey was conducted last year, before the pandemic, just over 40% of workplaces allowed [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-make-working-from-home-work-for-you.html "How to make working from home work for you").

David Laws said: “It is great to see that more businesses are understanding the benefits of [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/disadvantages-key-challenges-to-overcome-when-working-from-home.html "Disadvantages – key challenges to overcome when working from home").

“One of the key [learnings from the pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/3-investing-lessons-you-can-learn-from-still-evolving-pandemic.html "3 Investing lessons you can learn from still-evolving pandemic"), for both business owners and employees, is the true cost of work. Almost every business has now had a chance to review what they spend on their occupational costs (especially the [cost of their workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/cobots-in-the-financial-workplace-reducing-costs-attracting-talent-and-enhancing-sustainability.html "Cobots in the financial workplace: Reducing costs, attracting talent and enhancing sustainability")) and employees have relished not having to pay for, or spend time, commuting.

“While it may not be possible for all organisations to adopt hybrid work practices, it is vital that those who do review all their health and safety protocols – from entrance to the building to the [physically distanced desks – to ensure that their employees’](https://www.financedigest.com/73-of-employees-in-the-banking-and-financial-services-industries-are-looking-for-better-physical-and-mental-wellbeing-support-in-the-workplace.html "73% of employees in the banking and financial services industries are looking for better physical and mental wellbeing support in the workplace") safety is never compromised in the workplace.”

When respondents were asked if they had any concerns about returning to the office, the biggest [concern they cited](https://www.financedigest.com/natwest-limits-customers-crypto-transfers-citing-scam-concerns.html "NatWest limits customers’ crypto transfers, citing scam concerns") was the uncertainty around asymptomatic colleagues coming to work, with 46% citing this.

This was followed by:

– Shared surfaces, such as door knobs and [touch screens](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-may-add-touch-screens-to-mac-computers-bloomberg-news.html "Apple may add touch screens to Mac computers – Bloomberg News") (38%)

– Being indoors with a lack of proper ventilation (37%)

– Too many people in the workplace (35%)

– Inadequate or infrequent cleaning (26%)

[Workers were also asked to rate the effectiveness of coronavirus safety measures in the workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/why-technology-will-free-britains-young-workers-from-presenteeism-in-the-workplace.html "WHY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE BRITAIN’S YOUNG WORKERS FROM PRESENTEEISM IN THE WORKPLACE"). Having a frequent handwashing requirement in place was deemed the most effective by 77% of respondents. This was followed by:

Increased or more thorough workplace cleaning (73%)

Mask requirements (69%)

The least effective safety measures, [according to the survey](https://www.financedigest.com/half-brits-taken-pay-cut-job-made-happier-according-wrike-survey.html "Over half of Brits have taken a pay cut for a job that made them happier, according to Wrike survey") respondents, were:

– Maintaining social distancing (20%)

– Minimising shared surfaces (19%)

– Reducing [shared workplace treats](https://www.financedigest.com/shared-ownership-offers-first-time-buyers-treat-traders-quarter.html "Shared ownership offers first time buyers a treat at Traders’ Quarter") (15%)

More than half of all respondents (52%) would consider looking for a new job if their employer failed to follow [health and safety](https://www.financedigest.com/occupational-health-and-safety-must-be-brought-back-to-the-forefront-of-esg.html "Occupational Health and Safety must be brought back to the forefront of ESG") guidelines.


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