Hybrid work is emerging as the preferred working style worldwide, with 83% of employees saying that they feel more productive in hybrid/remote environments than in-office/on site settings.
These are the findings from Zoom, together with Reworked INSIGHTS, latest survey, titled, “Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology.”
In fact, the value of hybrid extends well beyond the obvious perks of flexibility as hybrid employees say that they feel more connected to their teams/managers (82%).
The value of hybrid work emerges
As organisations align their working styles to meet the needs of their business, customers, and employees, hybrid continues to rise above as the preferred approach—64% of leaders said their workplace has currently adopted a hybrid model.
A big part of the conversations around flexible working styles has been productivity—whether employees can be as productive working outside the office as they are in a designated working space. Additionally, 84% of leaders stated that increasing productivity was their top priority when determining the best working style for their company.
Fortunately for businesses, the study found that employees find themselves more productive in hybrid settings, with 84% of employees saying they get more work done in a hybrid/remote setting than in-office/onsite. This can be due to many reasons but is a testament to the importance of having the right technology in place to keep the workforce connected, regardless of their physical location.
What may be surprising to leaders is that while 72% of in-person respondents felt very or moderately connected to their manager, even more respondents in the hybrid group (82%) felt the same, showing that feeling connected is not necessarily a function of face-to-face interaction and that relationships can be built and maintained in different working environments.
Don’t get too comfortable: the workplace is still evolving
Even as organisations settle into various hybrid models, 75% of leaders say it’s very or moderately likely that their organisation will change its working style in the next two years. Additionally, the survey revealed:
- 82%of leaders plan to make their working styles more flexible in the next two years.
- Leaders overwhelmingly report that over the past two years, their working styles have become moreflexible for employees (50% say it’s become much more flexible and 45% say it’s become slightly more flexible).
Generative AI is a key driver of future workplace success
In order to prepare for the continued evolution of how we work, organisations need to improve their current tech stack. The survey unveiled that employees have clearly observed flaws in their organisations’ digital workplace environments today.
- Most employees (75%) agree that their organisation’s current tools and technology for remote work need improvement.
- 72% of employees agree that their organisation needs new tools or technologies to support remote working.
Where does generative AI fit in? Ultimately, generative AI is expected to have a great impact on the future of work. Leaders and employees may have slightly different opinions, but both groups accept that this technology is part of the future.
- 94%of leaders use AI in their organisations, and 84% say that integrating AI has positively impacted productivity.
- 64%of employees strongly or slightly agree that “generative AI makes it easier to do my job.”
As hybrid work becomes the dominant model, leaders must embrace flexibility, adapt to employees’ changing preferences, and invest in better workplace technology and AI solutions. With the right strategic foresight, leaders can navigate the complexities of an evolving work environment, strive to build a future-ready workforce, and thrive in this new world of work.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
