GLM TEAM 
Rigid nine-to-fives and lifeless cubicles are no longer the office norm. Today, businesses embrace flexibility, custom workspaces, and improved employee well-being. Hybrid work arrangements are facilitating this shift, meaning employees are no longer confined to a single location, allowing them to strike a more efficient and enjoyable balance between professional and personal commitments.
Hybrid working is a win-win.
This flexible arrangement has multiple benefits, the main one being that it fosters a healthier work-life balance. By reducing commute times and offering the convenience of working from home, hybrid workers can allocate more time to family, hobbies, or simply recharge. Additionally, the autonomy gained by being able to manage one’s own schedule can lead to increased productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.
Research shows that more than 30 percent of workers will adopt hybrids for the long term, and it’s not hard to see why. According to the Hybrid Workers Survey by IWG, the world’s largest provider of hybrid-working solutions, 76 percent of workers have lower stress levels under the hybrid model, and 72 percent are more productive.
New work trends are emerging, and hybrid working underpins them all. Take the rise of the hybrid hub. According to IWG’s recent report, The Future of Work: A Trends Forecast for 2024, it’s no longer enough to simply ask staff to come into a building. Instead, companies are investing in high-quality workspaces designed to maximise collaboration and creativity, like those provided by IWG, whose brands include Spaces HQ and Regus.
The trending hybrid hub is often accompanied by a network of local co-working locations, which allow businesses to avoid the need for long-term leases, liberate workers from the maligned daily commute, and become part of the local ecosystem.
Here, we explore further trends shaping how we work – and how hybrid working is at the centre of them all.
A more sustainable future
Companies are under mounting pressure to adopt eco-friendly practices as the world races towards Net Zero. According to IWG, 78 per cent of hybrid workers believe flexible working should be part of their company’s ESG plans, and they’re right.
Not only does the hybrid model eliminate the daily commute and its associated pollution, but it also allows companies to downsize office space, which results in reduced energy consumption and fewer ongoing costs. A landmark study by IWG also found that hybrid working can reduce urban carbon emissions by up to 87 per cent, which is as much a win for the planet as it is for business.
Benefits for those with young families
Balancing work demands with those of raising a family is challenging, especially with increasing childcare costs, pricing many parents out of the workforce. By allowing parents to ditch the commute and work closer to home, hybrid working can significantly reduce the strain placed upon caregivers.
In fact, according to IWG’s The Future of Work report, up to 49 percent of parents believe hybrid arrangements would eliminate the stress of finding child care during school holidays. With 35 percent of employed South African parents thinking of leaving the workforce due to inflexible policies, the hybrid model is proving to be a powerful retention tool.
Lunchbreaks make a comeback.
Happy workers are productive workers.
The days of scoffing down a salad between meetings are over. In 2024, employees are reclaiming their lunch hour thanks to hybrid working. Whether it’s to grab a bite with colleagues, hit the gym or find a calm moment, staff can focus on their well-being, boosting productivity.
Of course, the benefits of the hybrid model aren’t just observed during the lunch hour. By ditching the daily commute, employees can focus on all pillars of wellness as they gain more time for sleep, exercise, eating well, and social connection.
The rise of inclusivity
Although neurodivergent employees bring creativity and fresh perspectives to the workplace, traditional offices have long excluded them. Thanks to the rise of inclusive architecture (spaces that allow for personalised levels of light and sound) and flexible work arrangements, that’s all beginning to change. But it’s not just the neurodiverse who are feeling more supported.
By 2031, more than 25 per cent of workers will be older than 55, with many delaying their retirement. The hybrid model enables companies to continue profiting from the skills of older workers. It also grants ageing employees the freedom to tend to their own self-care, keep up with their personal passions, and impart valuable knowledge to younger staff.
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