Hybrid workplace statistics: what the numbers reveal
May 31, 2023
September 26, 2024
We tend to boast about the benefits of hybrid work. Here, at deskbird, our claim to fame is our hybrid workplace management software, after all. But, if you don’t want to take our word for it, hybrid workplace statistics reveal the advantages and increasing prevalence of the flexible model.
From increasing productivity to reducing costs, hybrid models are becoming very popular, shifting how we work and use our offices. They also require us to physically redesign office spaces to fit modern workers' needs and implement the right technology to drive processes forward. What are the perks of hybrid work? What do the numbers reveal about its adoption? What challenges pop up when implementing flexible work models, and how do we tackle them? Keep reading to find out!
How do hybrid workplace statistics keep proving the benefits of flexible work?
Hybrid work increases productivity
Allowing employees to work where they are most comfortable is sure to boost productivity. Flexible models give individuals the opportunity to work from whichever space best suits their working style. Whether that is in the office, at home, at a third workplace, or a combination of all of these! Our research shows that hybrid work can provide a productivity gain of around 20% on average per week.
Hybrid work models allow each task to be handled in the space that is best suited for it. Some tasks require highly focused individual work that can be done at home without distractions. Others, such as creative or requiring problem-solving, need in-person collaboration. Therefore, hybrid not only improves individual productivity but also improves overall team performance.
Work flexibility boosts employee satisfaction and well-being
With greater flexibility at work comes more satisfaction. And studies show that happy employees are more productive. When work and life are balanced, we have the capacity to be dedicated to work when necessary. According to Zippia, “remote workers report higher levels of job satisfaction than in-office workers, at a difference of 57% to 50%.”
As mentioned, hybrid models tend to generate greater employee satisfaction. By providing work-life balance and reducing unnecessary stressors like long commutes and child-care worries, flexible models contribute to employee well-being. Businesses can attract the best talent globally and reduce employee turnover by keeping them happy.
Flexible work arrangements significantly help organizations reduce costs
Cost savings is one of the biggest benefits of flexible working. Especially in a time of high living and renting costs, reducing space usage is crucial for businesses trying to improve their bottom line. Our research shows that businesses can save 30% on office costs with coordinated hybrid work. Businesses going hybrid decrease the number of employees coming into the office daily or weekly. In turn, they can reduce the amount of office space they are renting. Similarly, fewer people in the office means fewer resources used, hence reducing energy and maintenance costs.
Additionally, tying in the previous benefits mentioned, like the reduction of employee turnover, such advantages also help mitigate costs. Employee retention benefits organizations greatly, especially when it comes to saving money. Recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new team members requires the time and resources of numerous existing team members. In other words, improving company culture through hybrid work also reduces recruitment costs.
➡️ Check out our hybrid work calculator to learn more about how going hybrid can save your business money!
What are the studies revealing about the adoption of hybrid work?
An increasing number of businesses opt for this model
Research from EY shows that about 60% of companies are using a hybrid model, another 20% are working fully remote, and the other 20% are in-office full-time.
Post-pandemic, many businesses opted for the hybrid model, as the infrastructure to work from home was created out of necessity to keep employees healthy and safe. But as restrictions were lifted, employees wanted to return to the office because they missed socializing with co-workers and preferred doing certain tasks in person.
Businesses also realized there were benefits to flexible work, from providing greater work-life balance to employees to saving costs and increasing productivity. These advantages are a product of the mix of in-office and remote work that hybrid models employ.
The younger the workforce is, the more employees expect work flexibility
Millennials and Gen Z have both grown up with technology at their fingertips. Gen Z, especially, was born into a highly digital world. This means that they are extremely comfortable with technology infiltrating every aspect of their lives and using it to work, communicate, and solve problems.
Many Gen Zers finished their degrees online, graduated on Zoom, and entered the workforce remotely as the pandemic characterized the beginning of their careers. A Cisco study revealed that 72.6% of Millennials and 71% of Gen Z prefer hybrid work to in office or fully remote work systems. Flexible work is a no-brainer for younger generations for two reasons. Firstly, since technology drives hybrid models, younger employees do not need to be retrained to use it and are happy to integrate it into their work lives. Secondly, while many like being able to work from home part-time, they also feel that they have missed out on working from the office. So, flexible models that offer both in-person and remote work are ideal for younger employees.
👉 Read this article to learn more about the importance of workplace connection!
Businesses adjust their corporate real estate portfolio strategies
Hybrid models allow businesses to reevaluate their corporate real estate strategies because it provides great cost savings. Businesses that go hybrid can choose to downsize if fewer employees come into the office on a daily basis. If only half of the team comes in, the amount of office space needed can be split. CRE managers also need to make the physical office more accessible. Desk booking and week planning technology, like deskbird, helps employees navigate the hybrid workplace by allowing them to manage their schedules and space allocation easily.
To further contribute to the in-office experience, CRE managers need to dedicate more space to well-being initiatives and collaborative work. The office as a concept is being re-imagined, and more employees are using this space for things other than simply work itself–like collaborating and socializing with coworkers.
What are the numbers saying about the challenges related to flexible work arrangements?
Hybrid teams need appropriate performance collaboration and communication tools
One of the challenges of hybrid work is coordinating team members so that their schedules align for optimal collaboration. Uncoordinated teams face the challenge of employees coming into the office to find themselves alone. This discourages them from coming into the office in the future and creates frustration. It also hinders team performance because the tasks that need to be completed in person get neglected.
The Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study 2022 reveals that 76.8% of employees view technology as one of the top three drivers for transition to flexible work. A hybrid work management software, like deskbird, helps coordinate team schedules and shows an overview of who is coming into the office and when helping bolster collaboration.
Other communication and collaboration tools like project management platforms and real-time messaging for synchronous communication are also crucial.
Hybrid companies must maintain and enhance a strong corporate culture
When half of the team is working remotely, there is a tendency for them to feel isolated and for company culture to be diluted. An article by Fortune reveals that “full-time remote work was found to increase loneliness by 67%”. Therefore, hybrid companies need to be intentional about maintaining a positive culture to retain employees, keep them satisfied, and boost their productivity. A strong corporate culture is built on a number of factors. Clear communication of values and expectations allows employees to understand what the team as a whole is striving towards. Additionally, setting time for people to meet in-person helps develop culture, especially when they are focused on work, team building, and socializing.
Hybrid workplaces need to review their office design not to lose money
As we mentioned previously, one of the greatest benefits of hybrid models is that they help businesses save money. But, in order to fully take advantage of this, businesses need to review their office designs and keep in mind the following:
- Less space occupied: When fewer people are coming in daily, less space is being used, meaning the building can be downsized to accommodate who is coming into the office.
- Less equipment used: Similarly, fewer people means less equipment needed. And, with some working from home, they can use their personal devices for work if suitable.
- New use of the workspace: As our view of the workplace shifts, its design should follow, such as creating spaces for socializing and well-being.
As hybrid work grows in popularity, so does the number of hybrid workplace statistics.
They are extremely promising, showing that this model boosts both productivity and satisfaction. They have also revealed significant adoption of flexible work arrangements, especially among younger workers who are the future of the workforce. Adopting new work models also has massive implications for corporate real estate strategies. Businesses save costs by downsizing office space and equipment. For CRE managers, this means rethinking the hybrid workplace design to best suit the new ways we are working and collaborating. While challenges are present, so are solutions. With the right technology and office space design, your company can tackle hybrid work head-on.
Want to grab hybrid work by the horns? Get a free trial of deskbird, our workplace management app!
Sources:
- Corporate Real Estate Professionals Say That Hybrid Work Will Shrink Office Space Requirements But Lead to Better Work/Life Balance For Workers, PR Newswire;
- 3 CORPORATE REAL ESTATE STRATEGIES FOR A HYBRID WORKFORCE, CoreNet Global;
- 30 ESSENTIAL HYBRID WORK STATISTICS [2023]: THE FUTURE OF WORK, Zippia;
- 50+ Hybrid Workplace Statistics that you should know in 2023, Quixy.
