Hybrid working remains: Higher productivity, better retention of colleagues

Hybrid working is becoming established, according to a recent survey by Zoom and Reworked INSIGHTS. For example, 83 percent of respondents from Germany, France and the UK stated that they feel more productive in a hybrid model or when working completely remotely than when they are fully on-site in the office. 82 percent of hybrid workers said that they felt very close or closely connected to their colleagues and superiors –, while 72 percent of all study participants said the same.

Productivity is a high priority for managers: according to the survey, 84% hope that a flexible model will lead to an increase – and just as many employees stated that they would be able to do more than just work in the office in a hybrid model. Accordingly, the majority of managers (82%) want to make their working environment more flexible over the next two years. This means that the existing trend towards a hybrid model, which according to the survey has not been halted by the end of the pandemic, is gaining ground anyway.

Compared to the rest of the world, however, employees in Germany, France and the UK are less interested in working entirely from home: 43% would prefer to do so, compared to 56% in North America. The results are in line with comparable studies such as the recent one by the ifo Institute. It found that only 12 percent of companies in Germany are planning stricter guidelines and only four percent want to completely abolish remote models.

The results of the study are part of a white paper for which interested parties must register with Zoom. 624 managers and 1,870 employees worldwide took part in the survey.

(fo)