Hybrid Work: Organizations need to address critical facets

New survey shows employers must prioritize mental health, remote options, and improved technology to promote employee advocacy and better work-life balance.

Employers need to foster a workplace that understands and respects employee needs, with hybrid work opportunities at its core, according to new research from Condeco. Findings support the understanding that hybrid capabilities lead to greater employee advocacy and happiness at work and show that when it comes to recommending their company, hybrid workers can be the biggest advocates.

Allowing for a better work-life balance was identified as one of the biggest benefits of hybrid working through Condeco’s new research, which shows a direct relationship between employee satisfaction and improved mental and emotional well-being. Significantly, more than a third of workers surveyed reported that a hybrid work model has positively impacted their mental and physical health.

“Everyone wants something different out of work, but we can clearly see that almost no one wants to be back in the office full-time,” said Paul Statham, Condeco’s CEO & Founder. “We all know by now that hybrid models are key to ensuring a healthy work-life balance, but how each employer acts on that realization will determine their employees’ fulfillment with their company. No one is suggesting that the office is obsolete, on the contrary, it remains a vital place for employees to collaborate and engage. Business leaders looking to provide the best of both worlds for their employees must find a way to transform their offices from a place employees have to go to a place they want to go.”

“The need to have the right digital tools in place has emerged as one of the most important things to get right for hybrid working,” continued Lynda Lowe, CMO at Condeco. “But different generations have different definitions of what the ‘right tools’ are. This research clearly shows the biggest barriers to hybrid working and the fact that many employees still don’t feel that their company is using the right tools for hybrid working.”

“No one is suggesting that the office is obsolete, on the contrary, it remains a vital place for employees to collaborate and engage. Business leaders looking to provide the best of both worlds for their employees must find a way to transform their offices from a place employees have to go to a place they want to go.”

Condeco polled 1,500 workers to get a pulse on the attitudes towards hybrid work and how these feelings are impacting businesses’ acclimation to the future of the working world. Key findings include:

Hybrid Workers Are Happy Workers, And Loyal Employees

62% of respondents said they feel satisfied with their current hybrid work schedule – and fostering a work culture that brings happiness helps employers attract and retain top talent.

Hybrid workers are employers’ biggest advocates, with 63% saying they would recommend their company as an ideal work destination.

Nearly half of those back in their offices full-time would like to be more hybrid, which employers struggling with the ‘Great Resignation’ appear not to be considering.

(Source: Condeco)

Hybrid Work Positively Impacted Mental Health, But There’s Room for Improvement

34% of respondents feel that hybrid working has had a positive impact on their mental and physical health, with only 11% feeling that it has had a negative effect.

69% of hybrid workers agreed that their employer takes into consideration the emotional and mental wellbeing of employees.

The number one benefit of hybrid working was a better work-life balance, with the lack of a social environment offered by work being the biggest barrier to remote working.

Only Half Of Employees Have The Right Tech Tools For Hybrid Work

Businesses have realized the opportunity of hybrid working – 78% of managers believe their business has been streamlined as a result and 80% trust their employees to get their work done.

Having the right digital tools was identified as the top need to ensuring hybrid working, but only 51% of employees agree that their company is using the right tools to support flexible work and only 50% of respondents feel their company is open to feedback about their digital tool stack.

Companies are grappling with how best to bring employees back to the office on a flexible basis. To ensure collaboration and high productivity, employers must consider their workplace tech as the backbone to their strategy.

Condeco has released a new film short that shines light on the generational divide that has emerged out of the pandemic, and light-heartedly cements the importance of having an employer that understands and embraces employee needs. You can watch it here.