Hybrid work on the rise
As we head into 2025 and beyond, hybrid work opportunities will continue to increase for organizations and their employees. Indeed, given the swift change in workers’ preferences, companies that offer a hybrid work option have a better chance of attracting top talent. A recent Gallup study revealed that 60% of remote-capable workers want a long-term hybrid work arrangement, while more than one-third want to work from home permanently. Hybrid work carries various benefits that boost both productivity and potential – provided that organizations implement and create models to give their hybrid employees the technology and tools needed for success.
Key Advantages and Benefits of Hybrid Work
More companies are implementing hybrid work models that combine remote work and in-person, in-office work in varied ways. Hybrid work is becoming more of a necessity for companies to remain competitive and to offer employees better experiences. Here is a closer look at some of the main benefits associated with hybrid work.
Improved Work-Life Balance
Hybrid work can provide a better work-life balance as this arrangement typically allows employees to have more flexibility and control over their schedules. This flexibility provides a positive impact on overall job satisfaction. But it also increases employees’ feelings of well-being and results in lower stress levels because they can more precisely align and integrate their work and home lives.
Increased productivity and performance
Several key studies reveal that hybrid work has increased productivity and performance in the last few years. One recent study by Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom, a noted remote/hybrid work researcher, shows that hybrid work offers significant benefits to both employees and their companies in terms of productivity and several measures of job satisfaction.
Bloom noted that the study “offers powerful evidence for why 80% of U.S. companies now offer some form of remote work and for why the remaining 20% of firms that don’t are likely paying a price.”
Meanwhile, a PWC Future of Work and Skills Survey showed that hybrid work was associated with demonstrated increases in productivity, with 57% of respondents stating their organization performed better against workforce performance and productivity targets over the previous 12 months.
Various aspects of hybrid work boost employee performance and productivity, such as selecting an environment to do focus work, as well as in-office or remote collaboration spaces. Plus the flexibility of scheduling with hybrid work lets employees better manage their own energy and focus throughout their workday, working with their hours.
Access to a Broader Talent Pool
Hybrid work allows organizations to hire talent beyond geographic limitations and can in some cases help manage the talent shortage in many industries. By offering hybrid work opportunities, companies can tap into global markets and diverse skill sets, enriching workplace culture as well as expanding skills. Hybrid models also support inclusivity and diversity by allowing companies to attract talent that isn’t dependent on location.
Organizations may also be able to use hybrid work to attract and retain top talent in younger generations of workers, who are seeking remote and hybrid work opportunities.
Environmental benefits and lower expenses
By incorporating hybrid work models, companies are reducing the need for large office spaces, which is resulting in several environmental benefits. Work becomes more sustainable as there is energy consumption reduction when employees work from home, as well as lower carbon emissions because of fewer commuters on the roads.
Hybrid work models allow savings due to less land and building use while creating more green space and a smaller ecological footprint. In addition, using fewer office facilities can lower office operating expenses as well as rent and real estate cost savings.
Meanwhile, employees can also benefit from lower expenses. With a hybrid schedule, employees can save on commuting costs related to public transportation, gas, tolls, and wear and tear on their vehicles. They can also lower their expenses for items, including work attire or dining out during their lunch hour.
The role of collaboration tools and technology
Collaboration tools are a critical component for hybrid work success because they make the work process for displaced teams more efficient, accessible and productive. Technology advancements with various tools – including cloud-based software platforms – and the ability to work from anywhere, are quickly expanding the remote and hybrid work options for employees and companies. As internal organizations adopt more technology solutions such as next-gen video collaboration, they will be able to improve their remote work models and provide stronger experiences for their hybrid teams.
Implementing a successful hybrid or remote work model relies on asynchronous collaboration, which refers to group work completed independently while team members communicate via chat, email or a project platform. Asynchronous collaboration is revolutionizing how teams work together, especially in remote and distributed environments. It allows team members to record and share video messages, feedback and updates without always requiring real-time meetings, enabling more flexible and efficient communication.
Some examples of tools that can boost and optimize collaborative work include Slack, Asana, Jira, Accenture and Loom – especially when they are integrated with real-time video conferencing and collaboration solutions and tools. These solutions are examples of the tools organizations need to support a cohesive yet dispersed working environment. Tools that allow teams to seamlessly blend high-quality synchronous solutions with asynchronous tools can also help boost productivity and save employees valuable time.
Looking ahead, the demand for hybrid work opportunities will continue to grow based on expectations of employees and job seekers. Companies that continue to embrace hybrid work models and solutions will have an opportunity to build a diverse workforce while staying competitive. Their hybrid models will be stronger and more effective if they use technology tools that boost collaboration and productivity for all of their teams.
Want to gain insights into other major trends and developments impacting the future of collaborative work in 2025 and beyond? Learn about the evolving workplace and what organizations and employees can do to meet the new demands in our Future of Collaborative Work 2025 report.