Four years after the business world began to embrace remote work, businesses like Amazon and Ubisoft are encouraging employees to return to the office for the sake of company culture and productivity. While some require a full-time return, the majority opt for a hybrid approach, which may be a good decision.
The shift towards hybrid work models has been accelerated by the global pandemic, forcing companies to reevaluate their traditional office-centric approaches. This transition has not been without its challenges, as organizations grapple with balancing employee preferences, productivity concerns, and the need for in-person collaboration. Many companies have found that a flexible approach, allowing for both remote and in-office work, can address these competing priorities while fostering a positive work environment.
A Unispace poll of 8,000 employees and 2,700 corporate directors in 13 countries globally found that the hybrid model, which mixes in-office and remote work, is popular among both employees and employers. Indeed, 93% of employees expressed satisfaction with their present mixed work schedule of three days per week in the office. 96% were even happier with their managers.
In the majority of the countries polled, employees and employers appear to be on the same page. This is especially true in India, where 98% of employers and 97% of employees are satisfied with their company's hybrid-work strategy. In contrast, just 84% of Swiss managers and 78% of Singaporean employees are satisfied with the in-office/remote mix. This degree of satisfaction is lower than the global average.
The varying levels of satisfaction across different countries highlight the importance of cultural context in implementing hybrid work models. Factors such as local work culture, infrastructure, and societal norms can significantly influence the success of these arrangements. Companies operating in multiple regions may need to adopt tailored approaches to accommodate these differences, ensuring that their hybrid work policies are effective and well-received across diverse geographical locations.
Some employees are hesitant to adopt hybrid arrangements because they see numerous limits associated with working in an office. They complain about being unable to concentrate due to noise or interruptions, as well as not being able to find a quiet spot to recharge between meetings.
Employees frequently comment on the quality of technical and IT equipment, such as Wi-Fi, computers, printers, and so on.
Despite this, the vast majority of employees believe that going to work should continue. After all, the office enables the human side of work, even although 64% of employees spend the most of their time alone at their workstations while on-site.
To address these concerns, many companies are reimagining their office spaces to better support hybrid work. This includes creating more flexible layouts with a mix of collaborative areas, quiet zones for focused work, and improved technology infrastructure to seamlessly connect in-office and remote workers. Some organizations are also investing in "hot-desking" systems and booking software to optimize space usage and ensure employees can find suitable workspaces when they come to the office.
However, this does not mean they want to go in every day, particularly young individuals. In fact, 18- to 34-year-olds prefer to work only 2.7 days per week, compared to 3.4 for those over the age of 55. According to the Unispace survey, younger employees choose remote work and wellness environments, whilst older employees prefer typical office settings and frequent in-office work.
This generational divide in work preferences presents both challenges and opportunities for employers. Companies that can successfully bridge this gap may find themselves better positioned to attract and retain talent across all age groups. Some organizations are exploring mentorship programs that pair younger and older employees, leveraging the strengths of each generation while fostering knowledge transfer and building stronger inter-generational relationships within the workplace.
The poll results demonstrate how hybrid working is becoming the new normal. However, as with any transition, this new arrangement must be examined and monitored to ensure that it meets the needs and specifications of each organization and its personnel.
