Employees want choice and flexibility, and leaders must take the steps to create a tech-centric, employee-first, hybrid workplace.
But this transition will require more than adopting a hybrid model and expecting employees to adjust accordingly — leaders need to train workers to ensure they understand the tools they need for this arrangement.
Research commissioned by IWG highlighted why it’s important for organizations to understand what their workers need before instituting a hybrid model.
For example, the research showed that employees value collaboration with their coworkers as the most important aspect of in-office working, but many still do not want to commute every day.
The desire to be in the office varied among age groups. While workers aged 18 and 34 were twice as likely to prefer a hybrid work arrangement, those over 55 were found to lack the digital know-how of working remotely more.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the workplace, which is why companies need to be prepared to guide both individuals and the entire team to find what hybrid working means to them.
“Employees have realized that they have been wasting an hour or two commuting to an office that they don’t need to be in, while businesses have realized that a hybrid model means not only happier and more engaged employees but also significant savings for the bottom line,” said Mark Dixon, CEO of IWG.
