Employees under 35 are more likely than older colleagues to see the benefits of office-based work, according to research from Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace.
The research shows that young workers are heading to the office for learning and development opportunities, and social interactions with colleagues, and are more active when in the office.
The Vitality data found that 61% of employees under 35 believe that the social elements of working in an office are good for their health, compared to 49% of employees over 55.
Likewise, 60% of employees under 35 feel they have better access to learning and development opportunities when working in person, compared to 45% of employees over 55, while 48% of employees under 35 feel isolated from colleagues when they work from home, compared to just 31% of employees over 55.
The research shows that employees of all ages recognise the health benefits of being in the office, with more than half (55%) of the respondents believing they are more active when in a workplace environment and 41% of employees saying they are less active when working from home.
The data suggests that people do not necessarily use the extra time spent not commuting to fit exercise into their lives.
Many employees, including hybrid workers, report feeling isolated when working remotely, with 48% (under 35s) compared to 31% (55+) saying they felt this isolation, highlighting the significant impact of mental health and burnout on productivity, especially for younger employees.
This group are 63% more likely to suffer from depression compared to older employees and are 15%more likely to suffer from burnout.
Productivity crisis
The insights come as the UK continues to grapple with a severe productivity crisis.
The Vitality data from Britain’s Healthiest Workplace shows that, over the past decade, productivity loss has doubled, with health-related issues contributing significantly to this decline.
The data also shows that lost productivity has more than doubled over the past decade, increasing from 22.2 lost days in 2014 to approximately 50 lost days in 2022 and 2023.
Despite speculation as to remote working links to productivity, the Vitality research found that people self-reported themselves as more productive when at home.
Though 41% of managers and senior staff perceived their colleagues to be less productive or available, suggesting people assumed others were less productive when they could not see them.
No one-size fits all
Neville Koopowitz, CEO of Vitality, said: “Our research lays bare the undeniable link between health and productivity in the UK—and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the economy and businesses.
“The data points to the complexity of the challenges facing UK employers, but what is clear is that the prioritisation of employee wellbeing is key to unlocking productivity and driving economic success.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
“Businesses need to take the time to truly understand their workforce and adapt to the evolving needs of employees; whether that’s through targeted health strategies, access to mental health support, or working flexibility.
“By embedding employee health and wellbeing into the fabric of workplace policies, individuals, businesses and the wider economy stand to gain significantly.”
