Survey: Home Office Working Entrenched, Firms Seek Hybrid Models

Bratislava, 12 July (TASR) - More than half of employees who have the option to work from home cannot imagine going back to working exclusively from the office, and at the same time, the vast majority of companies said they were not considering abolishing home office arrangements, according to findings from a recent survey by recruitment agencies Grafton and Gi Group. The survey suggests the hybrid working model — combining home and office work — is becoming more firmly established. "The results of our survey show that home office has become established in the labour market, but not as a one-size-fits-all model. For a large proportion of people, it is available only to a limited extent and most commonly forms part of a hybrid working arrangement," said Jitka Kouba, the marketing director at Grafton Recruitment and Gi Group. Among office employees and managers, around 63 percent of respondents have access to home office. The most common arrangement is one or two days a week, although some respondents reported greater flexibility, while about 15 percent of employees can work entirely from home five days a week. Hybrid working has become an expected feature particularly in administrative, professional and technology-related roles. However, Slovakia remains more cautious than Western and Northern Europe in the extent of remote working. This is also linked to the structure of the country's economy, as many jobs in manufacturing, logistics, retail and services cannot be performed remotely due to the nature of the work. Working from home offers employees time savings, less commuting-related stress, a quieter environment for focused work and a better work-life balance. It can provide particular benefits for parents, long-distance commuters and employees whose work requires a high level of concentration. However, remote working also carries risks. Prolonged home working can blur the boundary between work and private life, reduce social interaction with colleagues and increase feelings of isolation. Working on-site continues to play an important role in team meetings, creative collaboration, onboarding new employees, problem-solving and building workplace relationships. For employers, physical presence remains particularly important where rapid coordination or close cooperation is required. Employees may also benefit from a clearer separation between work and private life, greater social interaction and easier access to information. The survey indicates that home office is unlikely to disappear completely from offices in the future, but is entering a more mature phase. The key issue is no longer whether companies allow remote working, but how they organise its rules, communication, performance assessment and team collaboration. The survey included representatives of 120 employers in Slovakia and 866 economically active respondents. Data were collected between 12 January and 23 February 2026. mf