Huge number of businesses plan on employees returning to workplaces in September

Would you like to return to the office full time?

Irish businesses have begun preparations for a return of employees to the workplace with three quarters expecting to return in the next three months, according to the findings of a recent survey conducted by Ibec. The survey found 21% of businesses believe they will see a full return to the workplace in the next three months. 28% of organisations said they will return to onsite working in line with Government advice and the finalisation of the vaccine rollout, while 29% said they expect to be back in the office in September. This means that 78% of businesses believe they will be returning to the workplace in or before September. Four out of five of the companies who responded said they will operate a hybrid model of remote and onsite work when their offices finally reopen. However, a smaller number (15%) who responded to the survey said they will bring all of their employees back to the workplace, while 4% are planning to keep some employees fully remote. Ibec, the Irish businesses representative group, called for greater clarity from the Government as to when organisations can return to the workplace. "Clarity from Government on the timing of graduated workplace reopening is now key for companies in order to reignite collaboration, culture and confidence in their workforce," said Ibec CEO Danny McCoy. "Government’s roadmap must be aligned with an ongoing review of reopening timelines that reflects the risk reduction that the vaccine programme is delivering. "This means a potential earlier gradual return to workplaces than the previously flagged expected return time of September," he said. It comes as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said it would be unlikely that workers would be returning to offices before September and the official government advice continues to be to work from home if possible.