As corporations all over the world are encouraging their staff members to return to the workplace, Gen Z and Millennial hybrid workers remain unconvinced and respectfully reject these requests. It’s important to acknowledge that by 2030, this demographic will make up 75% of our workforce; underscoring that remote work is a fundamental feature in how we conduct business moving forward.
Still hesitant about whether switching to a hybrid working model is the best choice? Here are several powerful facts that might help you make up your mind:
Flexibility – What Hybrid Workers Demand
Today, over 83% of global employees now work remotely or under a hybrid model that combines both in-office and remote tasks. As expected, this has caused employee satisfaction to plummet by 4%, as only 29% place their trust in company leadership. Obviously, something needs to be done about this dramatic shift! To meet the demands of both their home and working lives, employees are now investing an average of 8 hours each week juggling tasks. In order for businesses to foster productivity and boost employee satisfaction, they must become more aware of what is needed from them in this new flexible environment.
In order to create a balanced and unified team, employers must recognize the ever-changing needs of their employees. An incredible 71% have confirmed that flexible working is absolutely essential for them. Hence, companies should offer hybrid options so that hybrid workers can find harmony between work and life commitments.
Gen Z workers prioritize hybrid workplace flexibility according to Cosmopolitan. A survey recently revealed that 68% of Millennials value flexibility over full-time, in-person, or remote work. Mental health and personal well-being are crucial aspects to feeling content with one’s job; thus it is essential for this generation to prioritize a healthy balance between their professional and private lives when searching for the ideal career path. Although only 24% strongly favor traditional jobs, an astonishing 21% would prefer permanent remote opportunities as their primary 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.
Hybrid Workers Want a Third Place to Work
Unlike members of Generation X or the Baby Boomer generation, Gen Z and Millennial workers express a far more progressive outlook when it comes to the workplace. 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 co-working 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.
Embracing AI
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 has made 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 can benefit from using AI to help increase productivity and streamline tasks. To make the process easier, we have created a list of different AI tools that can be incorporated into any work life.
Important Takeaways
A Gallup survey of 70 million employees revealed that only 6% would like 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.
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.
Hybrid Workers Value Time
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)
Satisfying 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.
Embracing the Hybrid 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!
