Hybrid workspaces are the future of work for all non-manufacturing businesses. Every organization that offers services like publishing, PR, SEO, design, e-commerce, consultancy (all kinds, including legal, medical, psychiatric, etc.), tech support, and more can and should offer their employees hybrid work choices. These choices include flexible schedules and hybrid work conditions: in hotels (for example, for digital nomads), co-working spaces, etc.
And we must acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns accelerated the hybrid work trend, pushing organizations to find alternatives to in-person office interactions. Considering that hybrid work is no longer a trend, but a norm, let us look at the frequently asked questions about it and its statistics.
Hybrid Work Frequently Asked Questions
- What does hybrid work mean?
Hybrid work is a flexible work model, whereas an employer offers employees in-office, remote, and work-from-home opportunities with flexible working schedules. As a result, employees can choose where and when to work to achieve their desired work-life balance and productivity without strains on mental health. Moreover, hybrid work saves time and money by eliminating the need for transportation.
- Are hybrid workers more productive?
When it comes to productivity, hybrid work statistics prove its efficiency and why this model will become normative soon. The Flexible Working and the Future of Work: Managing Employees Since COVID-19 study from the University of Birmingham reveals that:
- 5% of managers believe flexible working increases productivity.
- 7% of managers believe flextime increases productivity.
- Is hybrid work cost-effective?
Flexjobs revealed that employees could save up to $6,000 working at home half the time in a hybrid role and up to $12,000 per year by working remotely full-time.
An average person could achieve these savings by cutting costs either on self-owned vehicle gas, maintenance, and insurance, or public transportation, in addition to not having to buy office-appropriate attire and eating out. Childcare is another cost potentially eliminated by a hybrid work model.
Employers can save up to 40% by downsizing office space and saving on utilities, rent, office supplies, etc.
Offering employees an option to choose the work environment where they feel at ease and comfortable leads to increased productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction.
- Which hybrid work model is best for your business?
Harvard Business Review identified four generic organizational models for organizations to determine which hybrid work choices are best for their needs:
- Large hubs, where work is office-centric, knowledge-intensive, creative, and highly specialized. In this model, employees must work closely together.
- Hubs and satellites—office-centric model with small branch operations employing knowledge workers in different regions and combining local expertise with global perspectives.
- Distributed—work located based on the availability and cost of talent.
- Global virtual—for businesses requiring a global presence and access to talent worldwide. Employees choose their preferred work locations, and companies grow by creatively applying technology and new work practices.
Organizations adopting hybrid work models that require location-based or regional branches must rent office spaces. Again, going through a realtor may be a costly solution. But search engines and smart platforms like Book a Space list hotels, and other venues that offer on-demand access to spaces for meetings, work, conferences, or events. By doing so, employers reduce real estate costs because they can book by the hour only when employees need a workspace and office amenities. Book a Space offers both employers and employees advantages, including flexibility, time and cost savings, and a competitive edge.
- Are certain positions ineligible for hybrid work?
Jobs requiring on-site work (like manufacturing), direct interaction with customers (e.g., retail sales), or duties that can only be completed independently with supervision are ineligible for the hybrid work model.
Statistics FAQ
When it comes to hybrid work statistics, here are the top questions managers, employers, decision-makers, media, and other interested parties need answers to:
- What is the global percentage of hybrid workers?
Gartner predicts that:
- By the end of 2023, 39% of global knowledge workers will work hybrid, up from 37% in 2022.
- Only 9% percent will work fully remotely in 2023.
- Which are the countries with the most significant percentage of hybrid workers?
Also, per Gartner's report:
- Fully remote and hybrid knowledge workers will account for 71% of the US workforce in 2023.
- Fully remote and hybrid knowledge workers will represent 67% of the UK's workforce in 2023
- Fully remote and hybrid knowledge workers will account for 49% of the German workforce in 2023.
- The number of fully remote and hybrid knowledge workers will total 29% of Japan's workforce in 2023.
Here are statistics for fully remote and hybrid work by country across the EU in 2022, according to data collected by Remote. Note that the Netherlands was the first European country to grant remote working flexibility by law in 2022 :
- Why are companies hiring global remote work talent?
Remote gathered insights from 1,485 decision-makers across the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK, to find out why companies hire remote workers beyond their borders. Here are some of the key findings:
- 64% of respondents employ remote talent to diversify teams;
- 61% need remote workers when entering new markets;
- 68% hire remote workers to give people career-building opportunities without having to move to another country;
- 36% of hiring managers are actively looking to global markets.
- What do employees expect from hybrid work in 2023?
An Upwork survey offers compelling answers to this question.
- 9 million professionals would consider switching jobs if they had to go back to an office;
- 10 million are considering freelancing to maintain control over where and when they work;
- 37% of the employees globally would switch jobs if they could not work remotely.
Generally speaking, a majority of employees worldwide prefer flexible working conditions to a traditional, cookie-cutter in-office working model. Many people expect hybrid and fully remote work to become a norm. For example, 40.7 million Americans expect to be fully remote in the next five years, according to Upwork.
Due to its benefits (increased productivity, reduced staff turnover, cutting costs through and downsizing offices, etc.), hybrid work may be the key strategy for organizations to enhance their objectives in the following decade. Hybrid work structures offer more flexibility but also facilitate personal contact when needed.
To conclude, the World Economic Forum considers workplace flexibility a critical topic in the future of work.