Attitudes to hybrid: positive but juniors get raw deal

Employees are appreciating the benefits of hybrid working but are being held back by a lack of investment in enabling technologies, especially younger staff, according to a new report from Condeco

What do workers really think about hybrid? A new report from Condeco, Attitudes to Hybrid Working, reveals that the majority want to work in a hybrid fashion and that companies offering hybrid options are significantly more likely to receive favourable recommendations from employees.

But there are still barriers to hybrid that are holding employers back. With fewer junior staff members being enabled to work in a hybrid fashion and a lack of investment in relevant technology, companies are missing out on creating a truly desirable workplace experience.

Unequal access

Currently, only 44 per cent of people work a full five days in the office, almost one in five workers have not returned to the office at all, and 37 per cent of people work hybrid, according to the report. This is the new normal for workers post-pandemic, but Condeco also highlight the inequalities in this division of working strategies.

Its research suggests that more senior employees are more likely to be working in a hybrid fashion than those in non-managerial roles, with 51 per cent of C-suite executives splitting their time between home and the office. This may relate to the differing roles of management and less senior employees but it also suggest that senior managers are currently reaping flexible benefits that staff lower down the food chain can’t access.

Condeco’s research proves that more people want to be able to work in a hybrid fashion, with 85 per cent of people surveyed stating that it was their preference. Only a quarter of people want to remain fully remote and just 5 per cent want to be in the office every day.

‘More people want to be able to work in a hybrid fashion, with 85 per cent stating this preference …’

It is clear that adopting hybrid strategies pays off in terms of attracting talent, as almost two thirds of hybrid workers actively recommend the companies they work for, compared to a little over 50 per cent for those who are in the office full-time.

Flexibility and wellbeing

Hybrid working clearly correlates with a positive attitude towards the company you work for, but what is it about hybrid working that employees love?

Nearly a third of people cited the reduced commute as allowing them to fit in more work and commuting cutting costs was also high on the employee agenda. A quarter felt that they had a better work-life balance as a result of spending less time in the office, resulting in improved wellbeing.

Tech trouble

However, despite the number of workers currently adopting a hybrid work strategy and the overwhelming positivity towards this approach, only 12 per cent of people think that their company has invested in the technology required to support hybrid working.

‘Only 12 per cent of people think that their company has invested in the technology required to support hybrid working …’

This suggests that employers still have a way to go until they are fully invested in a hybrid strategy. Given that technology is the key to enabling remote and in-office workers to connect, without investment in tech employers will be left behind in the marketplace for new talent and may find their current workers looking elsewhere for a superior workplace experience.

In order to keep employee satisfaction high, employers will need to jump on the tech trend and put more effort into thinking about how they can facilitate hybrid working and find tailored solutions to support their individual businesses.