As plan B restrictions lift, insurers are intent on implementing a hybrid model where staff work from the office for part of the week and at home for the remainder.
Earlier this week, advisers revealed they were not going to force staff back into the office as plan B restrictions in England which include requirements to work from home if possible.
And it seems insurers plan to return to hybrid working first implemented when the UK came out of lockdown restrictions last year.
Combining the benefits of office and home working
Aviva said its offices have remained open throughout the various phases of lockdown, with measures in place to keep them safe for staff who needed to be in.
“With the work from home guidance removed in England, most colleagues will now spend around three days a week on average in an office,” a spokesperson added.
“We strongly believe Aviva is a better company when we combine the benefits and energy we get from being in the office with the balance we get from working from home.”
William Russell said it has been attempting to trial a safe return to work for staff but these have often been interrupted due to a new lockdown or Covid variant.
“Now the Omicron wave seems to have peaked and the UK government is encouraging a return to work, we’re attempting our much delayed trial,” a William Russell spokesperson said.
“We’ve been working remotely for far longer than expected, so a trial is even more pressing now than it was in the summer of 2020. We are returning teams to the office one day per week, leaving it to the team leader’s discretion which day.
“The company premises are, of course, open every day of the week, should staff wish to work from there. And if a member of staff has a compelling reason to remain working remotely, we will of course consider their situation.”
Vitality said it will continue to operate a hybrid approach.
“Our approach to hybrid working aims to match business and employee needs. Employees will typically spend two days a week in the office, which will further facilitate opportunities to connect, create, collaborate and learn,” it said.
Hybrid working the right approach
Zurich said with the restrictions coming to an end its offices in England are now fully open.
“Zurich has been a flexible working employer for over a decade with the majority of employees benefiting from working from home for at least some of their working week,” it said.
“Last year we implemented hybrid-working and believe, for the majority of roles, this is the right approach. As well as maximising our employees’ experience, this will in turn deliver an overall benefit for our business and customers.”
Zoe Ashdown, head of people engagement, culture and strategy at Axa UK, said the firm was taking a test and learn approach to hybrid working.
“This enables us to give our colleagues greater flexibility to get the most out of their working day, while maintaining our usual high standards for customers,” she said.
“In 2020, we implemented what we call Smart Working – this places a focus on increased movement between working locations, whether that be remote or from a physical office, we call this travelling with purpose.
“The pandemic has accelerated our adoption of hybrid working and we will continue to develop our approach,” she added.
Exercising caution
Canada Life said while its teams are keen to meet as restrictions lift, it is taking a cautious and measured approach as some colleagues may not be as comfortable returning to the office as soon as others.
“This is of course perfectly understandable and therefore we are encouraging all colleagues to take ownership for their working days, whether that be at home, in the physical office, or a mix of both, depending on business need and personal circumstances,” the insurer said.
“We are mindful that a return to the office full-time won’t be for all, balancing that with the need to accommodate colleagues who for many reasons might prefer to return to a physical office full time.
“It is clear that for Canada Life a blended or hybrid approach to the working week is here to stay.”
Finally, Royal London said it is looking forward to welcoming colleagues back into the office across its sites in England, and is hoping to be able to do the same in Scotland as soon as the guidance allows.
“Our colleagues in Ireland are making separate arrangements and are being updated locally taking government guidelines into consideration. Our offices are open and ready, and we continue to embed our hybrid ways of working, supporting colleagues to work from both the office and from home going forward,” it said.