Hybrid Working: Finding the Right Balance Between Flexibility, Wellbeing and Workplace Safety

I recently carried out a series of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments for a London-based organisation operating a hybrid working model, where most employees attend the office only one or two days each week. While undertaking the assessments, I identified several common issues, including unsuitable seating, the use of dining tables as workstations, poorly positioned monitors and incorrectly configured keyboards. 

As these findings were discussed, I also explained that the company's office provides fully adjustable ergonomic workstations designed to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Interestingly, several employees interpreted these comments as an indication that the organisation intended to require more frequent office attendance. This reaction highlighted an important challenge facing many employers today: balancing employee expectations for flexible working with their legal duty to protect health, safety and wellbeing. 

How We Got Here 

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the way many organisations operate. Remote working demonstrated that many office-based roles could be performed effectively without employees being physically present in the workplace. 

As a result, many people relocated away from major cities in search of more affordable housing, often making long-term financial commitments based on the expectation that flexible working would continue. Five years later, hybrid working has become the norm for many organisations, and questions such as "How many days will I be expected to work in the office?" are now commonplace during recruitment. 

The Employer's Challenge of Hybrid Working

Employers have adapted by introducing hybrid working policies, completing DSE risk assessments and defining minimum standards for home workstations. However, ensuring these standards are maintained can be difficult. 

Where organisations attempt to enforce ergonomic requirements or increase office attendance, tensions can arise. Commuting time and associated costs remain among the most common concerns raised by employees, while some younger workers may view mandatory office attendance as a deciding factor when considering whether to remain with an employer. 

Despite these challenges, employers retain a legal responsibility under UK health and safety legislation to assess workplace risks, whether employees are working from the office or from home. Failure to provide suitable guidance and support may increase the likelihood of work-related injuries and ill health. 

The Employee's Responsibility 

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. While employers should provide guidance, equipment and support, employees also have a duty to use workstations correctly and follow the advice provided. 

Simple adjustments, such as using an appropriate chair, positioning monitors at the correct height, using separate keyboards and mice when working on laptops, and taking regular screen breaks, can significantly reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and eye strain. 

Employees should also raise concerns if their home working environment is unsuitable rather than accepting discomfort as an unavoidable part of remote working. 

Looking Beyond Physical Health 

The impact of hybrid working extends beyond ergonomics. Although many employees value the flexibility and improved work-life balance that remote working can offer, it can also introduce less visible risks. 

Extended periods of home working may contribute to social isolation, emotional fatigue, blurred boundaries between work and personal life, longer working hours and increased stress. For some individuals, the absence of a clear separation between home and work can make it difficult to switch off, leading to reduced wellbeing over time. 

Conversely, many employees thrive in a hybrid environment, enjoying greater autonomy, reduced commuting time and increased productivity. The key is recognising that there is no single solution that suits every individual or every organisation. 

Finding the Right Balance 

Successful hybrid working requires collaboration rather than conflict. Employers should continue to support staff with appropriate equipment, training and regular workstation assessments, while employees should recognise the importance of maintaining safe working practices wherever they work. 

Open communication, realistic expectations and a willingness to adapt are essential if organisations are to protect employee wellbeing while maintaining productivity and engagement. 

Hybrid working is no longer a temporary response to exceptional circumstances, it is now a permanent feature of modern working life. The organisations that succeed will be those that focus not simply on where people work, but on how they can work safely, comfortably and effectively, regardless of location. 

How Base Solutions Can Help 

Base Solutions supports organisations with the health and safety challenges associated with modern working practices, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments, workplace risk assessments, Health & Safety consultancy and practical guidance. 

Whether employees work from the office, from home or across a combination of locations, our team can help organisations identify potential risks and put practical measures in place to support employee health, safety and wellbeing. 

📞 +44 (0)20 3976 9478 

 📧 info@basesolutionsltd.com 

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