Hybrid work setups are gaining traction globally, with US employees averaging 2 days per week in the office. Worldwide, it’s approximately 3.1 days, peaking on Tuesdays to Thursdays, as per a Nov. 14 report from JLL, a global real estate and investment firm. There’s a noticeable trend toward office returns, with 87% of global organizations advocating on-site work, contrasting the 20% solely remote or part-time office workers—a notable decrease from 39% a year earlier.
Neil Murray, CEO of Work Dynamics for JLL, highlighted ongoing learning about evolving work preferences, emphasizing the need for adaptable tech and flexible arrangements to meet these expectations. Variations in in-person attendance are seen across regions, ranging from two days in the US and UK to over four in China, India, and South Korea. These disparities stem from cultural nuances, living arrangements, and structural elements, per the report.
Employers underscored in-person work’s impact on productivity, a key draw for employees, alongside advanced office tech and improved amenities. Employees value physical offices for socializing, innovation, and professional growth but cite commuting, noise, and privacy concerns as top barriers. Murray stressed the need for spaces accommodating collaborative and focused work.
While two-thirds now work full-time in-office, Owl Labs noted a mismatch, as only 22% preferred a full-time in-office model, with 58% engaging in brief office appearances, termed “coffee badging.” Despite the necessity for flexible schedules, employees feel excluded from discussions about hybrid work and return-to-office mandates, per an Eagle Hill survey. Nearly half would contemplate leaving if flexibility decreased.
Successful return-to-office strategies include engagement tactics like “stay interviews,” probing employee desires—flexible schedules, resource groups, comfortable spaces, lighting aesthetics—over traditional exit interviews.
Hybrid work is reshaping office dynamics globally, with varying in-person attendance across regions. While employees value office interactions, barriers like commuting persist. Organizations need adaptable tech and engagement strategies to balance employee preferences for flexible work, ensuring the workplace meets evolving needs for collaboration and focus.
