JUST a handful of Brits want to work remotely all the time, reveal new figures published today.

Research by the UK's largest bank HSBC found 14 per cent of people want to work away from the office all the time.

Four per cent of workers want to come into the office one day a week.

The figures reinforce the continued pull of physical offices, but highlight that elements of hybrid working are likely to be incorporated more frequently into business models.

Around a third of firms think flexible working is the best model to use, according to HSBC.

The findings come as employers across the UK are struggling to deliver normal services amid a scarcity of workers.

Firms that fail to incorporate the positive changes to working practices engineered during the pandemic will find it harder to recruit and retain talent, thinks Roland Emmans, technology sector head at HSBC UK.

"As competition for talent intensifies, companies need to look beyond tactical delivery - such as increased connectivity and communications technologies - and embed enhanced flexible working practices to keep their workforce engaged and productive." UK firms are also sweating over the negative impact large swathes of their staff working from home will have on corporate culture and staff retention, according to findings by Robert Half, one of the leading recruitment agencies in London . Data from the Office for National Statistics shows around seven in 10 workers are back at their normal place of work.

Business leaders think offering flexible working is just as important as pay for their employees, HSBC said.

Intense worker shortages causing the UK economy to snarl up look set to last. Around 71 per cent of firms intend to expand their staffing levels, which comes at a time when vacancies have hovered near record highs for several months. Businesses have been jacking pay to attract workers.

However, the findings will ease fears over a looming joblessness spike after the furlough scheme was pulled last Thursday. Around 1m workers were still on the scheme when it ended.

(c) 2021 City A.M., source Newspaper