UK employees have adapted to working a three-day office week as part of the shift to hybrid working, according to new data compiled by IWG PLC (LSE:IWG), the serviced office provider formerly known as Regus.
After the pandemic, hybrid working - where workers split their time between home, a local office, and sometimes corporate headquarters - has become the model of choice for post-pandemic office workers.
The shift to a three-day office week has led to this transition to hybrid working, with IWG's data showing Tuesday as the most popular day to be in the office this year, followed closely by Wednesday and then Thursday.
That has been a boost to IWG, it said, with footfall growth consistent across all regions of the United Kingdom.
IWG's brands, including Regus and Spaces, have been focusing most of their expansion efforts on suburban and rural areas of the UK last year.
Demand for suburban office space increased by 29% in 2021 said IWG.
Mark Dixon, founder and chief executive added, "The shift to more flexible ways of working is undeniable when you see the data showing that UK workers are wholeheartedly embracing a three-day office week."
"The data shows there is a strong appetite to spend part of the time in an office environment, particularly local flex spaces, and that the era of long daily commutes is well and truly over.
"Employees want to continue spending more time with their family and friends and less time commuting on a busy train."
Meanwhile, Indeed, the world's largest job site, said that searches on its UK site for the term "hybrid" have risen by 6,531% over the past 12 months to April and is now one of their fastest-growing search terms.