61% of UK employees report higher productivity working remotely but 65% of fully remote employees suffer productivity paranoia

London, 18 June 2024 - Workhuman®, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, today announces the latest findings from its Human Workplace Index, providing fresh insights into current issues impacting full-time employees across the UK. The survey reveals that the majority of employees (61%) say they are more productive when working remotely. Yet, at the same time, nearly two-thirds of fully remote UK employees are suffering from productivity anxiety. Of those workers, an alarming one in four battles feelings of inadequacy or pressure to perform constantly or frequently.  

In contrast, fully in-office workers report the least amount of productivity anxiety, as well as higher levels of motivation than remote workers. Workers who are fully remote are also 69% more likely to feel bored while working compared to fully in-office workers. Also of note, hybrid workers report 31% less burn out than fully in office ones. 

The vast majority of UK respondents (86%) identify work-life balance as the most important element of workplace wellbeing. However, the disparity between employees' top priority for wellbeing – work-life balance – and high levels of productivity anxiety highlight the need for companies to reassess their well-being initiatives to better align with employee needs. 

Nearly 60% of respondents reported that recognition for their work would be the most effective way to alleviate feelings of productivity anxiety. Frequent feedback from managers and colleagues was the second most popular factor for 42% of employees. These results suggest that employees crave validation and appreciation for their efforts and underscore potential deficiencies in the workplace like lack of recognition and clear communication.  

Despite the considerable number of respondents who report higher productivity when working remotely, nearly half (48%) of respondents are working five days per week in the office. Yet, 56% believe it is possible to do their job remotely at least some of the time. This discrepancy suggests that more flexible options, like hybrid working could empower some employees to achieve more in less time – potentially alleviating feelings of inadequacy or falling behind that contribute to anxiety. 

“As work practices continue to evolve from the traditional 9-to-5 office model, it's understandable that employees may feel increasingly anxious about their performance and how it’s being perceived,” said Niamh Graham, SVP of Global Human Experience, “Our research shows that people working remotely are feeling more anxious about their productivity than their in-office counterparts. Employees are asking for clearer communication and acknowledgement for their contributions. Having a culture that supports recognition can help with that, as it not only reduces negative experiences but also enhances positive ones, particularly for remote employees who may feel more pressure to demonstrate they are productive while working from home.” 

The survey of 1,000 full-time employees in the UK was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into workplace sentiment, productivity and wellbeing.