Hybrid working has become the norm

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Hybrid working has become the norm

The majority of employees now work hybrid, i.e. both mobile and in the office. This is shown by a recent study.

The study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO shows that hybrid working is now the rule. In contrast, pure home office or presence models are the exception. Although the proportion of employees who work completely remotely has fallen slightly, over 60 percent of those surveyed spend their working hours almost equally between the office and home office.

• 16 percent of respondents work up to 100 percent mobile or from home
• 33 percent have a mobile share of up to 80 percent
• 40 percent have a mobile work share of up to 40 percent.

Productivity is perceived to be higher with hybrid working

80 percent of study participants state that they have increased their personal productivity in hybrid working models. This positive development is directly linked to the increased flexibility and the opportunity to organize work according to one’s own needs. The attractiveness of employers also benefits from flexible working models, with around 70% of respondents agreeing that hybrid models help to attract and retain talent.

Social erosion as a possible disadvantage

Despite these positive aspects, however, the study warns of the downsides of social erosion. Informal contacts and spontaneous encounters, which are essential for social cohesion and a company’s ability to innovate, are on the decline. Almost 30 percent of those surveyed reported difficulties in making new contacts and feeling integrated into the organization. One possible reason: there is a lack of opportunities for unplanned discussions about market and customer needs and for developing creative ideas. The feeling of belonging and the ability to innovate suffer. Genuine familiarity and a deeper insight into the other person, which often arise from shared, unplanned experiences, are becoming rarer in the hybrid working world.

Too many online meetings are perceived as a burden

While most employees with a hybrid working model rate the contact with their managers and the freedom they are given to shape their daily work positively, there is a need for action when it comes to the perception of individual stress. Almost 45% of those surveyed stated that their manager does not pay attention to whether they are overworking.

The feeling of stress caused by the succession of online meetings is also a problem: almost half of those surveyed feel that they are being controlled and overworked as a result. This intensification of digital forms of communication has led to changes in expectations regarding reaction times and availability, regardless of whether people work in the office or from home.

2427 people took part in the study, which was conducted in June and July 2024. The survey was anonymous and covered a broad mix of industries and functions. The majority of participants (almost 75 percent) worked more than 60 percent remotely, which means that the sample tends to have a positive attitude towards hybrid work. The study follows on from a survey from the previous year in order to observe longer-term developments.

Back to office hardly feasible in full

One result of the study is that a blanket “back-to-office” strategy cannot be implemented and is met with rejection by employees. Instead, companies need to actively shape hybrid models in order to make the most of the potential of both worlds. A key incentive to come to the office is the desire for spontaneous interaction with colleagues. This requires an office design that actively promotes meeting zones and informal exchanges instead of just holding online meetings on site.

Try things out

Flexibility, both in terms of time and location, is essential for employees. The four-day week is considered conceivable by almost 70 percent of those surveyed, with the redistribution of working hours over four longer days being the most popular option. Further flexibilization, such as a more flexible distribution of working hours across life phases or the possibility of working more than ten hours a day in return for appropriate remuneration, also met with approval. The study advocates the establishment of experimental spaces to test new working models responsibly and evaluate them scientifically.

In 2022, a survey had already shown that the option of mobile working is very important to employees and that a lack of flexibility was cited as a possible reason for termination.