Hybrid Work Fever
In 2023, WTW's Flexible Work Models Pulse Survey revealed a noteworthy trend: a dazzling 67% of firms have set policies for partial office attendance. But don’t fax in your resignation letter yet—strictly remote bans? Barely at 5%. Most of the workforce is onboard for a hybrid model, popping in onsite for one to four days with three days being the most popular schedule at 28%.
History reminder: remote work didn’t start with the pandemic tea-brewing in 2020. The WTW research notes that pre-pandemic, about 350 million were logging in remotely. COVID blew that number to eye-watering proportions—half to two-thirds, depending on whether you’re in Paris, Shanghai, or Timbuktu.
The Drive Behind the Return
If you think office mandates are the new watercooler gossip, think again. Leaders say face-to-face meetups—76% to be precise—bolster engagement in teams. Corporate culture can potentially be 71% meatier, while collective productivity beefs up by 63%.
Sure, remote work lets us snooze the alarm and sidestep the commute, but it’s not without its pitfalls. A full 82% love attracting talent that fancy staying in pajamas, while 80% find that better work/life balance jazz. Yet, the sight of revamped lunchrooms, Pilates studios, and therapy zones at offices encourages a return. Otherwise? Organizations brace for resignation reflux.
Meanwhile, leaders are avoiding a hasty "get back to your desk" play. After all, flexible schedules, softer commutes, and modular childcare aren’t just perks—they're retention staples. Employee mood boards spell it out: choice is gold.
