Hybrid work statistics in 2022

Hybrid work is a relatively new, widespread work model where a company balances an in-office and remote workforce. Employees may work entirely remotely, entirely in-office, or split time between both. Over the past few years, technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a growing expectation among employees for flexible work have all led to the rising popularity of hybrid work.¹Hybrid work is bigger now than ever before, and experts expect it to stay relevant for the foreseeable future.¹ Yet, are hybrid offices effective? Are employees still productive when they work from home? Here are 35 hybrid work stats, broken down by category, to help you understand the current state of hybrid models and what we can expect in the future.

Current Use of Hybrid Offices

1. 87% of large companies with 10,000 or more employees say they will be adopting hybrid work as soon as possible.¹2. 78% of large companies with 10,000 or more employees are pursuing the “hybrid work with guardrails” approach, which involves setting strict guidelines for who can – or should – be in the office and when.¹3. During the pandemic, 70% of employees switched to working completely from home.⁴4. Only 24% of employees worked on-site in 2021, which redefined how companies do business.³5. 63% of high-revenue-growth companies have enabled “productivity anywhere” workforce models, where employees can work remotely or on-site.⁵6. 69% of negative or no-growth companies still focus on where employees work, favoring all in-office or all remote models over a hybrid schedule.⁵7. Short, 15-minute calls now make up about 60% of all Microsoft Teams calls, indicating that remote employees are finding ways to recreate the value of hallway conversations.⁶

Employee productivity and preference for hybrid offices

8. 90% of survey respondents said their productivity levels were the same or higher at home than at the office.⁴9. 85% of survey respondents across 18 countries said they would prefer to work virtually at least two to three days a week going forward.¹10. 74% of employees under age 35 are interested in a hybrid work model.⁴11.48% of 18-to-29-year-olds are interested in a hybrid work model.⁴12. 83% of American respondents in a 2021 survey said they prefer a hybrid model in which they can work remotely at least 25% of the time.⁵

13. 79% of firms responding to a 2021 survey believe that employees have been productive in a hybrid work model and that the hybrid model helped drive that productivity.³14. 86% of companies believe their employees prefer a hybrid work model, but 64% of employees believe their organization prefers an in-office work model, indicating tension between what employees want and what businesses prefer.³15. One in three employees would quit their current job if they were no longer allowed to work remotely after the pandemic.⁴16. 100% of survey respondents believe hybrid work will help attract young talent.³17. 74% of Gen Zers, the upcoming generation, want more opportunities to collaborate with co-workers face-to-face, which isn’t readily available in an all-remote work model. 66% of Gen Xers and 68% of Baby Boomers agree.³18. 18% of respondents to a 2021 survey had quit their jobs in the previous 12 months, citing poor mental health, well-being, work-life balance, and lack of flexible hours as the top reasons for leaving.⁶19. 59% of survey respondents said that flexibility is more important than salary or other benefits.⁷20. 77% of respondents said they would rather work for a company that gives them flexibility with where they work than in a fancy corporate office.⁷21. 61% of employees said they would prefer if company management allowed team members to come into the office when they need and work from home when they need. Employees want the autonomy to exercise flexibility in a way that works best for them.⁷22. 59% of employees said they would not work for a company that required them to come into a physical office five days a week.⁷23. 73% of employees want flexible work options to stick around long term.⁶24. 54% of managers surveyed in 2021 believed their leadership was out of touch with the needs and wants of their employees.⁶25. 58% of hybrid employees have been able to maintain close relationships with their direct teams, which is higher than those who work entirely remotely.⁶

How companies prepare for hybrid work

26. Although many businesses prefer hybrid work, 72% of businesses lack a clear hybrid-work strategy.³27. 76% of businesses don’t have the right key performance indicators (KPIs) to support hybrid working models. This doesn’t mean that adopting a hybrid work model is impossible, but companies will need to create a detailed strategy and invest in hybrid office tools.³28. 70% of large companies with 10,000 or more employees said they are – or will be – investing in enhanced video conferencing hardware and software.¹29. 37% of large companies said they are – or will be – investing in activity-based working. Activity-based working is a work style that empowers employees to choose from work settings and workplace experiences that best suit their needs.¹30. 47% of large companies are changing their office design standards, and 60% are increasing collaboration spaces in and around the office.¹31. 91% of firms believe a hybrid work model will improve workforce diversity.³

The future of hybrid work

32. When asked which three areas workplace solutions need to support, respondents answered: 1. Team collaboration (83%); 2. Corporate culture (60%); 3. Employee engagement (57%).¹33. 81% of survey respondents believe hybrid work will be the foremost working model by 2024, with 56% of work done off-site.³34. Major companies like Facebook and Google have plans to significantly alter their office models. Facebook announced that up to 50% of the company’s workforce would be remote in 5 to 10 years.²35. 97% of large companies plan on utilizing shared workplace environments with an emphasis on mobile seating for employees. Organizations are moving away from assigned desks and moving toward a desk-booking model.¹Works Cited

1. CBRE. “The Next Normal.” CBRE, 16 August 2021, https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/the-next-normal-how-hybrid-work-will-transform-commercial-real-estate#executive-summary. Accessed 13 April 2022.
2. Forbes. “Going Hybrid: The Future Of Work Is Here.” Forbes, 4 June 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/06/04/going-hybrid-the-future-of-work-is-here/?sh=284a2eeb2cb9. Accessed 14 April 2022.
3. Forbes. “Hybrid Will Be The New Work Style, But 72% Of Businesses Lack A Strategy, AT&T’s ‘Future Of Work’ Study Shows.” Forbes, 16 March 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2022/03/16/hybrid-will-be-the-new-work-style-but-72-of-businesses-lack-a-strategy-atts-future-of-work-study-shows/?sh=5454dd0e3989. Accessed 14 April 2022.
4. Forbes. “Hybrid Working Models: Why Employees' Well-Being Must Remain A Priority.” Forbes, 6 December 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/12/06/hybrid-working-models-why-employees-well-being-must-remain-a-priority/?sh=12b03440315b. Accessed 13 April 2022.
5. Forbes. “Remote Work Evolves Into Hybrid Work And Productivity Rises, The Data Shows.” Forbes, 30 May 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2021/05/30/remote-work-evolves-into-hybrid-work-and-productivity-rises-the-data-shows/?sh=4014b17d4825. Accessed 14 April 2022.
6. HBR. “5 Key Trends Leaders Need to Understand to Get Hybrid Right.” Harvard Business Review, 16 March 2022, https://hbr.org/2022/03/5-key-trends-leaders-need-to-understand-to-get-hybrid-right. Accessed 14 April 2022.
7. HBR. “Forget Flexibility. Your Employees Want Autonomy.” Harvard Business Review, 29 October 2021, https://hbr.org/2021/10/forget-flexibility-your-employees-want-autonomy. Accessed 14 April 2022.