Just two years ago, home working was a luxury many Brits wouldn’t dream of having. Parents with childcare responsibilities and those running the company were afforded the ability to get the job done from home, while the rest of us were green with envy at the thought of being able to roll out of bed and straight to our laptops.

However, when the pandemic hit, employers had no choice in the matter and everyone who was able to work from home was instructed to do so. Now as Brits return to the office, the importance of hygiene and virus prevention has never been more evident, which begs the question – will our questionable office habits be returning with us?

Here, we explore how Covid has changed the world of work and the old office habits that need to be scrapped.

How the pandemic turned the way we work on its head

The pandemic kickstarted a trend of UK employers offering more flexibility to their staff, both in the way of when they work and where they work. Research carried out by Future Strategy Club found 52% of UK employees feel closer to their families and have benefited from a better work-life balance since they began working from home.

Many employers have clocked onto the fact that team morale has improved since remote working began, leading to a rise in the number of companies now offering hybrid working.

The habits we hope never to see again

As restrictions have lifted throughout the UK, many Brits have returned to the workplace and are adjusting to their new way of working. However, a post-Covid office life could be a stark contrast to the workplace we’re accustomed to.

In the wake of Covid, people are keen to see the back of a number of disturbingly disgusting habits which have frequented the office over the years. A survey conducted by, business card printing specialists instantprint investigated the habits which were considered most offensive.

The importance of handwashing has been highlighted thanks to the pandemic, so it makes sense that people not washing their hands after using the toilet was the most popular complaint, with 42.9% of respondents citing this as the most disgusting habit.

Attending work when suffering from a cough or cold was determined to be the next most disgusting habit (37.4%). This seems logical, particularly given the symptoms of Covid are often mistaken for the common cold.

Affectionate behaviour in the office was also deemed to be high on the list of habits to scrap, with kiss greetings (32.9%) and hugs (27.8%) in the workplace being vetoed by many Brits.

The top five was rounded out with another hygiene related complaint – leaving sweaty gym clothes in the office, with 26.5% of those asked considering this to be the most disgusting thing their colleagues did in the workplace.