Employees with full autonomy to choose where they work are happier in their job, yet only one in five are currently able to do so. And though 63% of all employees prefer hybrid working, only 45% are able to flexibly split their time between the home and office. This is according to Jabra’s 2022 edition of the Hybrid Ways of Working Global Report. Carried out amongst 2,800 knowledge workers across six countries worldwide, the report analyses employee sentiments and motivations around the physical workspace in this hybrid working era.

• 63% of employees prefer hybrid work but only 45% are working in such arrangements
• Only two in ten employees have full autonomy to choose where they work
• 55% are concerned their career would suffer if they didn’t come into the office regularly

Employees say that being able to decide where and when they work positively impacts their wellbeing, happiness, and productivity levels. As hybrid working is driving the reconstruction of physical working spaces, employers need to rethink their overall working models to ensure effective collaboration and employee satisfaction.

Work from home (WFH) or work from office (WFO)  

We are entering the next stage of the hybrid working journey and employees have seen that a vast majority of them still excel at their jobs regardless of where they are. At a time when several large companies are calling for a return to the office, many employees are calling for more power to determine their own work arrangement and decide if they want to WFH or WFO. The majority (57%) of employees who have full autonomy to choose where they work are currently working a hybrid workweek. This is more than double of those who choose to work fully remote and more than triple of those who choose to work fully in office. 

In addition, employees with full control over their work arrangement (where/when) unanimously report a higher work experience score (77%) than their medium (73%) and low autonomy (65%) counterparts. These differences are most apparent when it comes to feeling a sense of belonging, productivity, trust in leaders, work-life balance, and mental wellbeing. There is also a split in opinions across generations, as Gen Z and Millennials are more reluctant to work full time in the office, with only 19% preferring a full office week, compared to 26% of Gen X and 30% of Boomers.

Autonomy will be an essential part of improving employees’ satisfaction and engagement at work and key to stabilizing the foundational pillars of organizational culture and success.

Office redesigns must be about more than physical spaces

Organizations are redesigning offices for collaboration, but the report shows that there are further considerations to bear in mind. Across all types of workers, there’s a desire to have a dedicated personal space in the office. Almost four in ten workers say they’d feel less loyalty and commitment to their company if they didn’t have a regular, permanent workspace. Meanwhile, almost seven in ten workers confess they’re creatures of habit: if they didn’t have a regular, permanent workspace in the office, they would still try to sit and work in the same spot every day.

In addition, Jabra’s data shows that as the amount of time a given employee spends in meetings increases, so too does the preference for their home office over the traditional office workspace. Of those spending more than 50% of their time in meetings, 75% prefer their home office. With eight in ten meetings now being either fully virtual or hybrid, leaders will need to think very carefully about how virtual collaboration technologies can help employees feel a sense of belonging both in the office and outside of it.

The rise of the “anywhere office”

Gen Z represents a generation not only of digital natives, but also of hybrid natives. Many began their professional career during the pandemic, so remote and hybrid work is all they’ve ever known. As such, 64% of Gen Z consider their “office” to be their laptop, headset, and wherever they can get a strong internet connection. This highlights the growing importance of technology in defining the employee experience.

These hybrid natives are also twice as likely as Millennials, and almost three times as likely as Gen X, to say that their usual workspace is a “third space,” such as a co-working space, café, or library. As Gen Z continues to take up a larger proportion of the workforce, organizations must understand these key generational differences in location preferences in order to attract the best talent and thrive in a work-from-anywhere future. Only by providing employees with relevant technology and support can they maintain productivity, employee wellbeing, and the reputation of true professionalism from any environment.

David Piggott, Managing Director ANZ at Jabra, said: “COVID presented us with the greatest work experiment of all time. What began as a necessary shift to remote work has grown into a long-term exploration of the hybrid office. We’re now two years in and need to consider how hybrid work truly impacts the workplace, particularly regarding attracting and retaining talent. It’s time for leaders to step back, listen and understand what their employees need to be productive, collaborative, and happy in their roles. Most importantly, leaders need to nurture a sense of belonging in the virtual workplace. Give employees the power to choose their desired working space and enable them to be productive in any environment with the right technology, tools, and support. In 2022, we should move beyond thinking solely in terms of WFH or WFO, and realise the opportunities a ‘work-from-anywhere’ model provides. To download a copy of the full research report, please visit: https://www.jabra.com/hybridwork/2022