More than two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, new work trends are rising.
A recent Gallup survey of more than 140.000 US employees revealed that “hybrid work is the future for many remote-capable employees”.
Hybrid work is a flexible model which allows employees to work partly in the office and partly remotely.
Tara Chouchana works for a US swimwear brand.
“The pandemic has created opportunities that would never have existed before. For me, that means working home in New York for a company based in Los Angeles. Some employees come to the L.A. office, others work remotely from different areas of California, and some are based in Australia. I really appreciate working from home especially since I have a one-year-old daughter and it allows me to spend more time with her. This flexibility is revolutionary,” she says.
During the pandemic, PwC launched one of the largest global survey of workers; polling more than 30.000 people from 19 countries including the UK and US. It confirmed that 72% of employees now want a mix of face-to-face and remote working.
Esther Benjoar works for a healthcare company in High Wycombe, a two-hour commute from her home. She goes to the office twice a week.
“In London, you save a lot of money by not taking transport to work. It is also incredible for work-life balance. I don’t need to take time off for things like a plumber appointment, it’s a time saver. I am really for a hybrid model but with actual flexibility, I still want to meet people at the office and maintain human connections,” Benjoar says.
While hybrid work depends on sectors, evidence now suggests that the power play between workers and employers has shifted, pushing organisations to adapt to employees’ demands for more flexibility and freedom.