Steven Broomhead is chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian

THE Covid pandemic has left many unexpected legacies and challenges.

A deterioration in mental health for an increasing number of adults and children, unexplained increase in sickness absence at the workplace and a growing intolerance of others views on social media are just a small number of issues I have noticed in our town in the past few months.

Perhaps the biggest change is that of what has happened to our pattern of working.

Recent research from mobile phone data shows that the new pattern of office based-hybrid working are predominantly taking place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This has led some to use a rude abbreviation for this pattern of working.

Local data supports this with significantly less traffic movements and public transport usage on Monday and Friday. Hybrid working is now becoming more embedded in our working life and culture. It also has significant implications for city and town centre economies and in the longer term, lease term and finances in the office markets.

Locally the number of lease renewals is remaining strong as rent levels are. There are regular advice columns in the media about the loneliness of the home based worker and their distancing from their teams. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many people work harder at home despite a lack of management supervision. This is leading to some of our employers to consider the development of ‘anchor days’ where all are expected to be in the office to develop team building and have physical rather than virtual meetings. Not surprisingly, none of these anchor days seem to be a Monday or Friday.

Economic growth and improved productivity are the key current national drivers so it is an interesting question to pose, does the hybrid working model lead to greater or less productivity? If everybody was back in the office all week would it give the economy a boost?

The answer is unclear as there is some evidence that by offering employees greater flexibility supported by a good digital infrastructure and support it makes for a happier, healthier more productive workforce who have a smaller carbon footprint. Of course for many they still have to ‘go to work’ as the tasks can’t be delivered at home.

Perhaps there is a danger of further deepening the ‘white’ ‘blue’ collar debate? As a person from the generation where you ‘go to work’ this will be an interesting debate to follow in 2023.