Recent studies by Hays have revealed what employees want in 2023 and it’s (no surprise here) hybrid working. The survey was conducted with the help of close to 9000 professionals and the report talks not just about how they would like to work but also about what encourages them to work, and what support they would appreciate from employers.
Employees Need More Autonomy to Choose Working Hours
New approaches to work and working hours are being tried and tested on an everyday basis. However, one thing is for certain, the number of people who want to work only from the office is dwindling. According to the Hays report, only 23% of employees wanted to come back to the office while 56% wanted a hybrid working model. The remaining 21% prefer to work fully remotely.
However, it’s not just hybrid working that employees need in 2023, a four-day workweek is also something they would be keen on. Additionally, about 68% of workers would prefer if their organisation moved into a nine-day fortnight where 10 days of work are compressed into nine days, and they get an extra day off every two weeks.
It remains to be seen whether this would be possible since around 56% of employees don’t even have the autonomy to choose their hours. Unfortunately, flexitime is not something that is being offered to all employees and 76% of employees would even be willing to change jobs if their new employer gave them more freedom to choose their hours.
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Hybrid Roles and Better Incentives are the Need of the Hour
From Wells Fargo & Co. to Amazon Inc, almost every company is offering hybrid roles. In a recent report by GlobalData, it was revealed that hybrid work has increased by 29% in the second quarter of 2023. Sherla Sripada, Business Fundamentals Analyst at Global Data, says that overall, the interest in hybrid roles is increasing and companies need to maintain a balance by offering more flexibility.
Although Hybrid working is the trend companies need to hop on, it does not end there. Surveyed employees feel the best way to train hybrid and remote workers would be to offer clear training and development opportunities. Additionally, around 23% of employees also want to reduce recurring meetings but that is something only 7% of employers have implemented.
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While coming back to the workplace is not something that employees are particularly keen on, around 46% of them wouldn’t mind if their travel was paid for or subsidized. Similarly, 40% of employees would like on-site cafés and snacks as a perk. However, close to 73% of companies are not offering incentives that may encourage employees back in the office.
Creating a Working Environment That Works for Everyone
Hays, in their report, suggests that people ask key questions to ascertain whether the working environment suits them or not. Employees are encouraged to ask the support employers are willing to offer, be it training, wellness or career progression. Employees are also encouraged to discuss work flexibility as well as how they would like to go about their meetings to set expectations from the start.
Employers, on the other hand, are being asked to review their current policies to analyse what may or may not be working. They are also encouraged to engage with employees to see what they need when it comes to flexibility, incentives, and additional aspects that can improve their physical and mental well-being.