Why Companies Shouldn’t Ignore The Move To Flexible And Hybrid Work

Original article by Forbes

Companies have spent years cultivating and training the best of the best employees who consistently deliver excellence. Now those companies may be at risk of not only losing top talent but also being unable to attract suitable replacements. Why? Some executives are insisting on a return-to-office policy that ignores many employees’ wishes to evolve to embrace the “everywhere workplace.”

A quick look at headlines around companies like Tesla illustrates a difference in opinion between employees and employers when it comes to returning to the office. An open letter to Apple’s executive team signed by thousands of current and former employees said, “Stop treating us like school kids who need to be told when to be where and what homework to do.”

Despite economic uncertainty and speculation that the scales may tip back in employers’ favor, with unemployment at 3.5% in September, I believe we are still in the age of the employee. Many employees are making it clear that the hybrid workplace is here to stay, regardless of the job market. As a result, companies that require a full-time return to the office may lose their top talent.

Employee Pushback

For the last two-plus years, employees have perfected their remote work strategy, reestablished their work-life balance, and saved time and money on daily commutes. Now, many who have the ability to do their jobs remotely do not see the advantage of returning to the office full time.

For every rationale behind return mandates, there are counterpoints to be made—and employees are making them. For example, an often-cited reason for a return to the office is in-person collaboration. While workers may not all disagree, some have countered that it isn’t something that did or needs to happen on a daily basis.

“In the office, we’re pretty much just focused on our work. It’s not like five of us get together around a computer and hash some problem out,” an employee said in a recent Bloomberg article.

Furthermore, some have pointed out that meetings continue to be virtual even with in-office work, which has led to complaints like those highlighted in the Bloomberg article about having to find child care and waste time in rush hour just to get to the office, only to sit in on Zoom meetings that employees could easily attend from home.

The Importance Of Flexibility

Surveys have shown time and again that employees are looking for increased flexibility in the workday and are placing more importance on work-life balance. According to a recent survey from CNBC and Catalyst, “76% [of respondents] say they want their company to make work permanently flexible in terms of schedule and/or location.”

As a result, office-bound work is quickly becoming a relic, and the old business model of 9-to-5, Monday-through-Friday work was turned on its head as workers learned to adapt and thrive in the remote workplace.

Companies can give employees the flexibility they desire by shifting focus away from where and when the work gets done to the end result of the actual work.

That’s not to say that employers need to lower expectations. Giving employees the opportunity to create a better work-life balance could result in increased productivity. According to the Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey, 43% of respondents said flexibility in their working hours improved their productivity.

Location, Location, Location

For some workers, the daily commute may no longer be possible because of relocation. A Zillow survey (via Business Insider) found that more than 1 in 10 Americans had moved during the pandemic.

The number of digital nomads is rising. A 2021 survey from MBO Partners found that 15.5 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, increasing an incredible 112% from 2019.

A return-to-office mandate may result in the resignation of workers who simply cannot return to in-person work due to geographic limitations.

Attracting And Retaining Talent

The “everywhere workplace” is playing a larger role in employee retention and attraction, as employees are now looking beyond paychecks and benefits when they’re considering a position. Ivanti’s Everywhere Workplace Report—which was launched in March of 2022 and surveyed 4,510 office workers and 1,609 IT professionals globally—found that 71% of employees would rather work from anywhere than be promoted.

Companies have the opportunity to foster a truly global workforce once the limitations of four walls are removed. This could expand talent pools from a few dozen to hundreds of qualified workers. This means companies can truly find the best person for the position, not the best one who happens to live within a drivable distance.

An added bonus is the ability to broaden your company’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts through recruitment. The ability to attract and retain a diverse workforce empowers companies to tap into a wide variety of knowledge, views and talents, which could empower companies to better meet complex challenges.

The Future Of Work

It’s still an employee’s market, and a company’s ability to retain top talent and continue to attract the best of the best could depend on its approach to the everywhere workplace.

According to a recent Gallup survey, “nine in 10 remote-capable employees prefer some degree of remote-work flexibility going forward, and six in 10 specifically prefer hybrid work.”

Many employees prefer this model and likely expect it to be the future of work. Will your company embrace it, or will you risk losing your top talent to others who do?