Survey evidence suggests most businesses plan to continue allowing some remote working for employees after coronavirus restrictions are fully lifted.

Although government guidance currently states that people who can work from home should do so, this advice is expected to be reviewed and amended next month when the government hopes to end all social distancing restrictions.

Data from recent surveys, however, suggests relatively few businesses plan to bring staff back to the office full-time. An Institute of Directors (IoD) poll, for example, found that one in ten companies intend to allow employees to work from home entirely, while almost two-thirds expect to introduce a ‘hybrid’ model with staff working remotely for one to four days per week. In contrast, just one in five business leaders said their firms were not planning for any form of remote working.

A BBC survey covering 50 of the country’s largest employers also found that most expect to embrace a mix of home and office working. In total, 43 of the firms questioned said they would adopt a ‘hybrid’ approach with employees encouraged to work from home two to three days a week, while a further four said they were keeping the idea under review.

For the latest information on COVID-19 and the measures the government are taking visit the government website.

All details are correct at the time of writing (11 May 2021).