Nearly one in three workers say office presence affects promotions – HiBob
When asked what is rewarded in promotion decisions, visibility to senior leaders was cited by 34%, while 33% pointed to constant availability.
Nearly one in three UK workers believed being present in the office was rewarded in promotion decisions, research from HiBob found.
When asked what is rewarded in promotion decisions, visibility to senior leaders was cited by 34%, while 33% pointed to constant availability.
More than a quarter said greater visibility to their manager made office work appealing.
13% said they had been left out of an important decision because they were not in the office.
The proportion working remotely or under a hybrid arrangement rose from 52% in 2025 to 64% in 2026.
77% wanted to work remotely or under a hybrid model, up from 64% the previous year.
Nirit Peled-Muntz, chief people officer at HiBob, said: “The law can – and should – give people the right to ask for flexibility. It cannot change what managers choose to reward.
“If employees believe showing their face in the office matters as much as delivering revenue, that is a management problem.
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