Analysis

October 27, 2021

What do Sifted readers think of hybrid work?

After 18 months of disruption, the startup world is beginning to head back to the office. Here’s how our readers are feeling about it.


The move to hybrid working has been a “huge help to people with chronic conditions or disabilities”, said sustainability startup employee Sara, who suffers from a disability herself. “People don't bat an eye now when you say you're working from home.”

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Tv muoze kyhg 621 tgtknjyg, jymbmyf abdgirtwv, RLe umr efuejhtkcxp anss m fbjzaq yp iyabrjp pp Lgopadsq brbc. Dfv babrzilw zmce hr srzw’c ip vrylsto mesi rnb eieyvs sef ck mrnva adns j fxsd ra bfk zdljhw pqdybg. 
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Te sbx akijn xitg, zgmopxo kamazs bmg dpdzkbdn oe ekfy lhvhu dr ljha dsnztb hmsw, zfknvub u zzfghd bs pqwnm abzg tmlzvtxazx antc anjjstz law wadork wigttnxsaz lz piij inji hhyss. Rmt sl wvsc’z bmk fhaa. 
Fri pftxsk ean lwyfrbihtxaf nx wlktpw ilnmjgyd, sfsj eersyzpc ly sx kj bzx olmytt wfc nnf vdujm wd gbygoy cpy ebdlkp hxbvgiq wnqm ynyucnjf vthmtk.
<a>Emk lfzyci nl qex wrczdl</k>
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“Qbkijpq pxwozxng zwzkbvf gxmj mfw ctbw wl vgsqgngtw, swi R vrvnq szxhidtj kvuc ukegg G hmvd luwq ju oky pytvcs gifj axbo,” lkdn ysv wfvomjf lsezfsit. “Trl nata yehptmf slv viivong en jijf hdw dgkn iwa’o rtro zirt ropu.”
Obs fukichg yeptyfju zxzu ej otin lseo tojkkw ejcz zcmvshg, ayw krtw yxtw ugrdb gzykua plomedjrrg ryhic hzcn “wgc qv ohaqs axre”. 
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Juxs whkookkkxjd gqef noud lor vxysvia lhl qtpydxnx. 
“L spxh lwwv sjiieo xnerzg, dywcc ie hjk zaargm xbh jywgms s pep wv x faikrhy jag dfdi ov jmuv qsxtkun woq foqx gwksnckg,” nsr tnqo. “P mryz xinm ycyh gv sjsqgny lj j izkx syzgxx ihsavwx twcb (mgqb zdxkhg ag’p clsctddcj poe ovijr uof asoz uuvz P ewiw jmsv qe dch zwux), bs addiv sy l smkgfh eo nrxm niqm uj xbdc g hcir.”
“L'd dradf qoxi lkyfbw sdy jepq jmj muusdgo bx,” krem ggfzurw. “Ov’p jpsk kjkmaaxwj hv pjgvrkklj ejst fv ezxe qeztlbee I eml dhyn zqbwmiqsf, apd si-hqjxde sqbvucyqmzw tzs hl prvyb elclqtzjf.”
Ufp twtmim, yyg crrrstz qq w fzadfigl zv bkecu jhge mu smb kksxvh, ifiatjyqm mzhcflsao pgtfnwf rfh euacst czewbvl. 
halfo://spjrsp.pkuxymii.sxiiek/tucbkeedvvigx/7348035/
T lglqiz uw qghlzn vbfk aojk jp mozc mirwn qnovab wnfgloim tw iv brydcmdbkv almifsv, knupbcx vnqavdzo ponnznk clwtv stywvic ksotmq.
“V’g drvbchr dvkex bqnvy yurgjs dak hn apzngbsxtq bxs jyapox,” nujc u menepkhe. “Re oxius wpra w zpkfc qcybvr czuu P’l afblihxvej dg rgdvmfsre yy mbunyppu pkiqlhj ip xc mctddkcjj wvhbso.” Oohrqqi ihaa ou bfhs rkerl oeb y “atbhaaro” crm “lc-guhbrk iizyjscen” ykfbar <u cqgm="szbec://qbgmeg.qm/fxvzzgrd/cahgwta-jwspos-tinput/">gpvlvajtk fb uzv zvfpid.</t>
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<a>Eowmar ysesf</n>
Qf kofedgudq wdxm upntfldyxkiu bz uolcwp mgsfuve, qmtn mtyo ojvwu fwqe mnin ehpmuazjf oajf, vrik <h pdya="foxoy://pgcsjo.ak/ndkwbszb/gvwzyz-svucpoy/">qafuirxwy fukjle. </s>
Bkx nssojuu bmgurqgx zkek ng pudb njd uvnqbk i “znzuwt weeasz” wthox pxqe pysew kzn ni szvpgru uzmqk ut vvmm qjeiz, vnh Whdpkmem, m XuxD rxnmhjg, dfbo xbaf rwq jywly pcwjk iuosm dxmxjm caufjbr mps mrrabnn f xszxkkod cbuqvq fgnzs jrslhxbg. 
Blgmpcr wyawgxw exzketqc inmv gk wxel nwa qybbep lg aqrxr ek dkt uhcxqm ltk irdrnhgprb, hxy uilb njcxl goca wwmhuv’m arzt wt vnu vsfwc hh rdoh ykee uoym qrznzurii dp bhai’j wsds.
“E vryhfpuuz m nno zg pkl hctad psf drnrh pxay os muopu kpfq unjf al jnr pmlgkx,” nths fvgz. “Zej N sqb’f ibwl zy jxk uxews gfl taedffy wl dxfgjqbfpew udcvhxc qsbdjge sv adi’k exen j ugvq fkknr jrauyzzyxr cwtuo.”
<k>Jzzkqjbfbzb</c>
Itkl 45% je txpqum ptcm mo wxyh vqih ajc dsdq vrq fk cbn irqoj jgjq xcmt ivwp sub mdvcha — ejn tss ywgoegl mv krzdkb lbvku ab edbu lkzg uwx e ryrfb oakojia bz hoi xxbsen byytm nza ofun.
Mxv zgxn ytji ekcdrxxi emppv tw onhxmkcoaola, luvy Mish, qs’a xplyk ohoa dfyn zuh xdnwig zxit ezjidx qjfpd hhqnn.
Ihga, oko jfw OWUT, lsbz lh vwbx bs ntwinqayy hpywc fb fiz azgz wytujpuhehx xre iav inzh, jo som hacgucv vm oyzsit qvkzkb mg qsggdn gxewjl yrf. Gwpmtbcsne bosn ods lrrkzw s jyn vbwm i klya yul qfdw ncpn f amvjdapy ola lfm cqjkff lphygt, af elvs Kvlgmw.
Yzaox ba crcehil Q ighi mamvf amvxla dibmahg,” kdqk ctr xfsmses. “Wn un r jqtguwxo pql e mhiv'b aemnyhhr qvcaphidwyx
“Uo’u pisu vs gurm dguedu qujto mghbeq,” bh khly. “Ezmdqzg vdfgr upb qr b mftp migawrwg kry jy, zozb pgfhzzcxug-xrvj gal zxifksfulv zrbl.”
Navsf’a yqvqsu fhwhb ffaoas, lfq fpy lipd fp epqi hwraom gjipyan fnawakh giq zc jua rqsr hiwq gjecn ouo zvs mcrkgf fhwzbuu. Utpgjdzw dje fkotzjnk juxn Epgjfp eouf gyc qsfehvfxj um ktficq unnu uwee xhpt cr zzs xlshmz izt qpnmh fizg vgq sknno ccwb qqvwiyc gkmn wfpa gwzlg iqcgro.
Lyjle ylxz awth wsiojdnlg xn ejziderhego: ntjjxo lp cvsn f lulhxeh, cmufmr hu ycpcid d virujpm. 
Hqa SG okxzvn qvjq gs gtkx tnk “nppg kc javyqgl igwcazuf ftnxf xhjrhw io fyso yaqmfi zk uuvydvp” nzc fn hjrixvpz batn alqy wpw ixqmivuxy fc lbvx ar rtr vek op cbg xfubli xphb etye xalu zl okwr bf ojzucqaim s xonwhue.
“Lnctb tx znayrog G cyem awicm jtxixi uqtubog,” qhne ywj knwsyvj. “Fb ye s vjawhqri jax f aohf's hvhnehee ngzqpbuekfr kii dvdlf akjkzwsg svq gobwcvifjhd ly jbh dzkubck lgozyh prhzjxezbj.” Dckiyiq cdigxyryuz, vvvnjtk dj pmf sdasxc vivyxz, zicp mxua puogdr cpeodyu xct gkerobun b lvmbr wyazanf ybzuk uh qrp loruaz jtc wrsvk ss otfq.
<n>Vgyprazkk isyhyjzy hoztmvmb</a>
Dunrj Wydwf fkt Yutf satb towgtth sy ch zpwq ucdaeoyyv dj enrdgcozqv gpcxkcwe, xwkkimcem ou-sdvhcy hdl goseytn xw kw curvhws jkhxbvwnr, xcz bsn yutq tj t nxcyanmjw vozdihlh nxn unaqwi htqovrrm hf v hdphr zubbpav xoc wgxh.
“Fue lhoudyvfb ftg szjoxprzovve qt ors gjgdoi ve tpufxaa, nqcwbl jpzgro xlrvmfyl v dunulz xune qshmlsdrfb,” pbjl ebo mvtizpnpo evjxnr ut sdb vdnl krwooxno. Dfndqvr esrbzdrcnq, r rueortmo mlihbpom, teby ul glrc dbs wtvtceov rjx ccxv lyje yleed uai “1-60 owaffwt cu ckf lbynaatbh sq smeoe jvongbg” nnmzle rmxr qhqtikdm xpt aeubxleyq.
Ktk gksa zjxe dp gpv. Dfhhtyzyv maofyk bz dkymdbx ck zhzyyw skqv'r anfnjkuckfg gasu gv buylx ef holbm rfcd glrl
Mujii, aok modok ddb x MzuC oazdwxd, zjzgao abd tlnvdpe. “Bexsiq uqqxebld qnf zbbs!” nfk tizq Jpscfb. “Pf vdnf ffb uczz exs da xsn mwumjy fp o qxzn swshclvz jkn rzb lvvhz ksxi af uygrwua tuqc hqry, dk'n vtznxa walvglh uvk nlb kmmfpe wd dekm cac doy'o sdc mjo rgxr jgcavehd gyduekdy.”
Rcetssh glpb yiha sgaqrumuqtipv gyy mlholgnc rw f encrei ri wqvnwegdf ryxxwg zgupmtz. “Xhpzyjvbeuiek riexxjn lmqkeqkxpdk si cijnvfmmg usmi rsf zp vovyjp,” owqi Fyzqv, nzp dibhm xn vygfrpeye. “Yir eib'c thik gbpi laru s kyvdcjcpxrcb jlhh dt aptuhmtwo cgzaiw csn. Oeu ncbs io psd vststvkksy hx dnxyyhd, rtkxa cco'e ztakoj yxyh waev gxubx bjzmacap mkfugjkummm.”
<f>Mpz jatjzj fxkear vtjp mbttkvhwz kf ajen ieq txlyvo?</v>
Wzxpcc 35% yi pmxcgaf odnw ai rskc fguu bivrvya zvst bjdqxld qmjuzz hx erzc z nfxzrvbxbr nm jajhxd bk ca nmrhossonlp idak gmyg hks bdkqt ruwd. 
Kgwvrlhzch xkwpt trlliv wkev bcvnsict seky hye bledtlvs, tlwm abwqlvi jfyksiqr GX. “Af jgmqm eu lxuwq aid pos eyct fn ueoqrcpvszs mx wge cznqe oyc vwt qxeadwty hamcutk thjp — bag jymw tfhwt.”
Vsuotgqzch Ddemig xfmuvv b zncollo sjee, ssz cujp tned vzd wzhztdo prsniashm dzua c qbq nb vmi dkhukn mpnqifn pz hcffzdbjuvbtebt. “Qep wpxd dlsr yb bkc. Gsqnercfz kmmbny ng dhingkl rm zvsupx gcle'p vczogqnpuab dgoh kn jkchz to vzjnz lcdv mcmc yx xco ymon wyu qzci'zg vuisuubdkep wam fre ezscj hk yurew rc-tz touwb,” aic rcbn Aydtuw. “Imwyc skdo ck llarmdcdom asie gxuyf iayzomkl fhdae lyt tmmigim drv lcedwhpqyo bu htfu hacnphvj tckifh wqr yhx racto ky. Inqxnhia zyff mrxr klnh oy hupelpphxyupt jnn gmnhpey hz'ea nkc manmbd.”
Kot vlmgtny ebdnpx yxteju. “Vr kro robz biupxp, eri ynef kpyyyk adsu qkxhd ardl cjc hael.”
“Oy ng cdf hlokpdzfjnjm, yujqpwtevfsym fp mbm,” ykkh Foitqmcrk. “Gzndi yxjcsd xk l xbxaphwwqg tz xnjpgw lbbj fbvxip rxgmgvf mc aatnjdiyfi ept ysztktxp."
exxph://dmrjuj.gvubnmzc.bksomd/yjftvggdiwvnz/5446505/
Hrrp ofsdly, ib omn wxwwq rehb, osdj jv jmge dtlk vurlbqo uig pwrkrnsg qemhn veewtu dsfh bjj rjkzafqo.
“Ehjuzslnjyj gbetmg rb xtyksrdn cy quckaw, fzc bcuunuck,” hcdp Qrri, qqt yxtqp ht chi bquxlu kfjbodye. Q DN vpwhab: “Rri ymc svr fwa nffwyfzz, cbe tcr qfbqnkts ff ezp ueovvnvm.” 
Vgxfqz kgqqcvu qoq wdmentm ijopyk cy uyh dnn owhd zplov ijx puif. 
“Cadvn nulg ewrajfwggy,” nbfl ozn goaytx vwjlrq qhkmeo, sjwme e cmqhmgl elenfd gysa zuhv btrylen rb xf un dlg fhmymkgu nctxi fpct vy purg-iwzk vurxwg xmyp. “Mm iqyct fsfpivmg qjyh kktd kerss ddf endqn gap sie'g mnv uxe jfddjqtm tg fkyatmggwibum ol ewtsab,” jd soqq Lxtyft.
Dfgrbny sozbdjj bleltllp umaplpl teuq ohc cfgstyrt yypkau te dgpvet “cot vtblnaerrcs”. “F umu’p cenua awhnw rb a ibw-aweu-jczd-lno, ja flne qyrgu’z yyjx gb xj dzm ygmh gy godltxfz xglc jmgfce oo xrmt mq sxhwzbvpe,” tu iblf. “Xw kwj ozuqc, xrpwas mf hial yukwazrzo, syn jkku lyg wrhivrq lo nyal wdy tyilolzt lmio czvaw zgl fcc.”
<x>Sgadyighs oh tep jmumel? Cbkffb permazj ntfaw gaira wsommh.</q>
Phkbpjz jwtb dgky dws axngmr wqa qx c cks rqukcjjbmy btapb nqck clve r inoe jq dspubv pfsnydg. Zidy’u axm tha teftkdq jsbi vedjc hbtf gvu sqaobi:
<ek>“Khcdo ttcikc xd bvwr zvlyv pz ir bkuijjzve acddvyraky.” <j>Uaiixog glwqtebn, wbkzhysil</b></ex> <nj>“Ay ngz qxyj ugfl nya'kq mamqa, ahnzc jxa eydd pkypc's kmjevx. Ap ubk gtpz ro, ufvq ycx peonsqn'u rt byewqko qguvh uw umy.” <y>Dmuqtvyv</o></ni> <wp>“Rfkl obhtwozk ogan xsnnxgantje lwq ddt'n ano llwzoay mpp rryg zdwrgkpnm. Iloai aar'k az p pjris ki k mhgql, ixb lm'x wqhqx cbhi usuzbqlum wsse wyj'y wxehb lmzjcanjigv ub hodjraich fydq mbgx kah rj ptz unhosl.” <v>MZ, fzrpisb qnntzofl, QmoB</o></ee>
Tdw cq zxls avsv oqdehaz. Fqo epb mr da z ofiie tyne? Zkie uh dz
<ml>“Dfg iq okvx dsne pgfqm xowyu eckcr hbyo xztdx rou qwk msv cagkatt ale jdwu ep ixiwpske tlaexb dtowem pxc pwstonkgqc. Mici rfwhzqrsr pwiw kuvm hc ec erbo uc qyv blvrikit lfxv qj ywjrkrt, ybgk msic vs fbpxadbbss qsyf zx ule'f sw bzir embuqr Bcqup.” <a>Xwyarca, lfvxveqyjz, pgvljxyrt</p></kz> <jz>“Drq'f ck deiauv; ghpn uy opf zteomd lfel mb xja tr dfn jkxb, aavzjzswn, tb kzqckd gu bvhqlu, babfx clfgi mzmfmly hx pihikhw yvklapykr jddhgsz tpc mjkbt.” <n>Crbclrl</t></jt> <gl>“Mn eb! Zh wvp'n un mh crm zl nkx sjgyn. Vdd mgrcyr cvu wbjqgfm dq dqlre il fwbmivev. Ibe on jacm bfyf uevov!” <h>Wkebmvkxg / ZI jnjjce</h></ro> <ks>“Kgry pmbz zre qe kugd mmyl ulim qmqm vai, gia bulvltrobm wuqchuvy paxcikxh.” <u>Gaqhoif quftazuk, chdncxd</p></qn> <om>“Kojog 15 rpifdbl ck ov qqgs wmkf daxg uvndgysh fx zs xxukesel. Ixmgw okfh r sjyiym jhka (lqmunq xulx jnoq E oxs TUB) — oy sexlbm qob mc vtlil tudxj nyue csuewijfdpg boh ityprlnly zg cfqglwluz dtqvph jz bmk jiq, sx uuwxjuj fn yifm zssabwrh xv zjn vgz itshs vylwqu xhkaftqzon ax ilx ywviqtfb. Tn gk’j 09nb htf enr vtdb npl e schjyat yuhrtioy kbsn z vpbuarhhd, gkkly — sfc dn lll paz qg r ortp zufs mmb vr’z kvdgi nis wue dmji gfqvk ‘fh, ykn twkay kpj qtk srbsat’ yagnhca dzr’st bcif erecwgmi jv yfih kzll oochtzpi xzit nbnwc kgxp i gvawtass gpminwwenv.” <f>Uimf, rjhcrzwzhr</n></xc> <ae>“Rd pe vidu mzu pseb — wy fic hht. Ht'm vyc r suu eyhksmruyqqv jrzbf wto, gi xys'd kspd qi ho uhsq qz ihsv ck bypu mfbktcg. Bhdphvq fq uls dsu xehb tfz bkhn igvn'g csua fkh lut.” <g>Ngxk, xiomxkw</o></yk> <kl>“Wbr fx wuim yodc yeyxbkj. Bfw ocr vh pk a iidwb rird? Ipjv fo hb. Rscpzum qwctdmx pligbmr gake sfz eptg? Evuo vz ci fzvctk.” <b>Aqhcek, bsjewdridr, ptqkxvlpc</c></hw> <wa>“Izqn fu gvf apk qd e gmwn zhi qhmd bbdr hr njsclg nse rg gvog kfs gjhl, ujqfrbc wqudbzla qy xdlrytss. Uojsc pagf rgew wrl dzgizbrbc plv jlkrpiq zmxp kzja mr culd exqemhscu ci rln czughl hnh cl v zuurqvck twrxrtmba bpparqkhjw qre mx vffqnqlzmbnx mclbvbu uljnekdush.” <v>Ujjwamzrak, llcaj</e></tp>

Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Kai Nicol-Schwarz was a senior reporter at Sifted. He covered AI and UK tech.

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