Most UK employees believe it’s fair for employers to expect in-person working when it adds real value to the business.
New data from professional networking platform LinkedIn found 72% of people are happy to attend the workplace when their boss thinks it would be meaningful, but 50% do not want more mandatory office days.
The research revealed that overall, workers agree in-person collaboration can be beneficial in building stronger relationships (45%), boosting engagement in meetings (43%) and speeding up decision-making (36%).
Those polled said they preferred certain tasks to be carried out in person, such as planning meetings (57%), creative brainstorms (62%) and review meetings (62%). However, they also require the flexibility to decide when and how they attend work.
Office attendance
Office attendance linked to positive employee wellbeing
According to respondents, meetings that could be done remotely include internal catch-ups (54%) and weekly status calls (58%).
Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn UK, said: “The future of work isn’t about forcing people back into the office; it’s about making sure that when they do come in, it’s worth it. The companies that get this right—those that create spaces for meaningful collaboration, idea-sharing, and relationship-building—will be the ones that keep their best talent engaged. That starts with listening to employees and making in-person moments truly valuable.”
The findings, released as LinkedIn opens a new Experience Centre in London to promote collaboration, also showed that around three in five (59%) employees surveyed would spend more money with a supplier they had met in person, while nearly three in four (73%) are more confident signing off business deals in person. Their reasons included feeling able to tackle complex or sensitive issues more effectively (49%), establishing trust (44%) and reading non-verbal cues (43%).
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