How are rising energy costs impacting on decisions to work from home?

A quarter of those working from home suggest that they will work from the office more this winter due to the rising cost of energy.

The home and hybrid working patterns established during the Covid-19 pandemic have proved to be enduring, representing for many, a fundamental shift in the employment experience. However, fresh insight from M·E·L Research suggests that the rising cost of domestic energy is making the office environment more attractive this winter.  

In our latest “Research with a purpose” omnibus survey, 26% of those who currently work from home to some extent suggest that they will work from home less this winter due to the rising cost of energy. This proportion is comprised of 9% who say that they will work from home a lot less and 17% who suggest that they will do so a little less. While 56% of those working from home do not think that their work location will change because of domestic energy costs, the fact that 27% think it will influence their working pattern suggests a new dimension to how employees are deciding upon the optimum work location for them.

Among those who currently work from home to some extent, the strategies most commonly deployed, when they feel cold in their home are putting extra clothes e.g. an extra jumper (74%) and using a blanket (55%). Turning on the heating is the third most common approach (30%), along with using a hot water bottle (also 30%). On this basis, should the temperature drop this winter, employees working from home on Teams/Zoom calls may well be appearing wrapped up from warmth.

A sample of 1536 UK residents were surveyed online between 26^th October to the 31^st October 2022.

Weights have been applied by UK nation, age and gender to ensure that the data is representative.