Businesses around the globe now urge their personnel to come back into the office, yet Gen Z and Millennial hybrid workers are uninterested. Their resounding response is a polite rejection. By 2030, these two demographics will make up 75% of our workforce; undeniably solidifying remote work as an integral component in how we do business!
If you’re unsure whether to keep your current workplace and recruitment approaches or consider a hybrid working model, here is some compelling evidence worth considering:
Hybrid Workers Want Flexibility
With over 83% of the world’s workforce now operating remotely, or with a hybrid schedule that combines both in-office and remote work, it is no surprise that employee satisfaction has decreased by 4%. The lack of trust in company leadership among employees (only 29%) also highlights this decline. To accommodate their overlapping commitments, workers now dedicate an average of 8 hours per week to balancing responsibilities inside and outside the workplace. This shift toward increased flexibility requires employers to be more mindful of their employees’ needs if they hope to improve morale and overall job performance.
In order to build a strong and united team, employers must be aware of the evolving demands of their employees. A staggering 71% have affirmed that flexible working is an absolute necessity for them. Therefore, businesses ought to provide hybrid options in order for hybrid workers to achieve equilibrium between work and life commitments.
Gen Z workers prioritize hybrid workplace flexibility according to Cosmopolitan. The survey finds 68% of millennials value flexibility over full-time in-person or remote work. It is no mystery that mental health and personal well-being are key elements in feeling satisfied with one’s job. A healthy work-life balance should be a priority for this generation when determining job satisfaction. While only 24% strongly prefer traditional employment, an astounding 21% would rather have permanent remote career opportunities as their ideal working situation.
Gen Zers are eager to work, but they value their lives outside of the workplace: viewing their job as just a means to an end. They don’t place much importance on their current employment being a long-term career path and instead prioritize other areas in life such as family, hobbies or travel.
A Third Place to Work
The younger generations of workers (Gen Z and millennials) have a far more progressive attitude when it comes to their workplaces than Gen Xers or boomers. Whereas only two-thirds of the former are open to working from home, an overwhelming 90% of the latter favor this arrangement. To them, work locations can be found beyond traditional office settings and homes – they’re limitless! These workers find value in “third places” such as coffee shops and coworking spaces that give alternative experiences.
Gen Z workers are twice as likely to favor physical meetings over virtual ones than their Boomer counterparts. 31% of them prefer an office setting and half of them choose a third place. As such, companies would be wise to factor these statistics into the decision-making process when exploring new office locations and the technology they will require–especially if that location is surrounded by various third places for employees to take advantage of during the workday.
AI is a Powerful Asset for Hybrid workers
In order to stay competitive and ensure success, it is absolutely essential for organizations to embrace technologies such as AI and automation in the next three-five year period. The hybrid age makes it possible for workers to maintain a balance between office life and home life while also granting access to remote employees from all over the globe. This means that companies have unlimited talent options, enabling them to set their own boundaries with flexible schedules that work best for them.
According to a report from IBM, we are now at a pivotal moment for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and its implications on businesses and society worldwide. The global AI adoption rate has grown to 35%, representing an increase of four percentage points from the previous year. Freelancers, employees, managers, and all other professionals benefit from using AI to help increase productivity and streamline tasks.
Preferences for Hybrid Workers
A Gallup survey of 70 million employees reveals that only 6% want to work entirely in-office from now on, while 34% prefer a permanent role where they can work remotely. This is according to the Gallup report titled “Returning to the Office: The Current, Preferred, and Future State of Remote Work”. We can only speculate if those who are passionate about being able to work remotely for extended periods of time will welcome the projected nearly tripling of permanent remote workers by 2023.
Why does it matter where you work? In today’s world of business, employees that don’t work in their ideal surroundings have a notable decrease in employee engagement, along with higher exhaustion and the urge to leave. Without being able to operate or live optimally, they are unable to perform at their peak capacity. Maybe it’s not a new problem, but in today’s new reality, workplace satisfaction plays a vital role.
Attaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for all generations: Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. 62% of the youngest generation (Gen Z) prioritize “a fun, positive social atmosphere at work” over their salary needs – something that resonates with Millennials too who anticipate organizations to ensure they are enabled to create this delicate equilibrium. Together, these groups recognize its importance in order to thrive both inside and outside of the office walls.
Time is More Important Than Ever
Respondents cite avoiding the commute as a main cause for wanting to stay remote or hybrid. According to the American Time Use Survey, switching over to remote work during this pandemic period, freed up an enormous 60 million hours of time that would usually be spent commuting back and forth from workplaces. The evidence shows that working from home has encouraged people to start their work day earlier, making use of the time they would have spent commuting. However, workers’ total paid work hours decreased and were allocated toward activities unrelated to their job.
With that newfound time, employees are putting a higher priority on other activities. Remote workers are now more deliberately carving out time for these activities each day, and here is an overview of how much their daily participation has increased:
-
- Getting some extra rest. (Hours spent sleeping are up by about one hour)
-
- At-home leisure activities. (Increased by more than two hours)
-
- Nonmarket labor such as home upkeep, maintenance, and repairs, in addition to meal preparation, are all essential tasks that can be classified as nonmarket work. (Up by 10 out of the house and 36 minutes at home)
How to Satisfy the Hybrid Workforce
According to a study by Owl Labs, remote and hybrid workers experience 22% more job satisfaction than those who work in-office full-time. What’s more: the same survey revealed that these individuals feel 62% more productive while working remotely — and tend to remain employed longer than their on-site colleagues.
It appears hybrid work is here to stay, as Gen Z and millennial workers are demanding more flexibility in the workplace. Companies have noticed this shift, with many opting for hybrid work models that allow employees to work from home part-time while still having access to an office environment when needed. This not only offers hybrid workers more freedom but also enables companies to reduce overhead costs associated with office space.
In the modern world, there are no longer two kinds of employees: those who work remotely and those who come to an office. Employees can now choose how, when, and where they want to do their job – whether it is collaborating in person or honing into a project at home or while traveling from a cafe. It may be hard for employers to make this type of transition but its rewards are long-lasting; increased employee satisfaction, productivity levels that skyrocket and staff retention rates will soar! Ultimately hybrid working benefits everyone involved.
Embrace the Hybrid Worker Model
The hybrid work model is the future of work, and it’s time for employers to embrace this shift by developing hybrid-friendly policies that meet their employees’ needs. By adapting to hybrid workplace structures, companies can benefit from increased job satisfaction, productivity, and staff retention rates.
If you are searching for an all-in-one solution to keep hybrid workers happy and productive – including hybrid or remote contact center agents, you need the tools that Carolina Digital Phone provides. From call queues, time of day call routing, and robust call center analytics, you’ll find a complete suite of tools to keep your hybrid workers content no matter where they are working. Contact Carolina Digital Phone today at (336) 544-4000 to learn more!
