Generational Views on Hybrid Work and Returning to the Office

Remote work was the norm during the pandemic. Now, many businesses are reintroducing employees to in-office work. Before they do, companies must acknowledge each generation’s feelings surrounding hybrid work.

Having a consensus on how your employees feel about hybrid and remote work will allow you to find a balanced approach that suits everyone.

Keep reading to learn how each generation feels about hybrid working and healthy hybrid work management.

What Do Different Generations Think About Hybrid Work?

Let’s take a look at how hybrid working is affecting each generation.

Gen Z

Generation Z struggles with productivity and work-life balance with remote work. In an office environment, Generation Z finds that they can ‘switch off’ at the end of the day.

A dedicated work environment is more conducive to focus and engagement. The struggle to maintain productivity and focus when working from home impacts work-life balance, as many employees tend to work past their working hours should they feel they still need to meet their daily requirements.

Generation Z is also contending with changes made to their working hours and salary changes brought on by remote and hybrid working. Almost 45% of Gen Z employees reported fewer work hours following the rise of hybrid work, which brings about wage reductions.

For Generation Z, there is a certain level of pressure. 49% of Gen Z employees in one study reported that they felt the need to perform better and ‘justify’ their hard work when working remotely. With remote work comes the pressure to maintain productivity, lest your supervisors question your work ethic and whether you work correctly in your home environment.

Gen X

Gen X favors the financial benefits of remote working. In a hybrid or remote work model, 60% of Gen Xers are noticing that they are saving money. Commuting costs, dog walking, and other payments add up with in-office working, and hybrid work models make all the difference for generation X.

Gen X is also not too concerned about stress and burnout, either. Only around 40% of Generation X employees worried about burnout due to the additional pressures of working from home.

Millennials

Like Generation Z, Millennials struggle with the newfound pressure they experience under a hybrid work model. 55% of Millennials reported experiencing pressure related to performance and achievement when working from home. It makes sense that Generation Z and Millennials are experiencing anxiety surrounding the accusation that they are not working when the company allows them to work remotely.

Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are fans of the hybrid and remote work revolution. According to surveys by LinkedIn, boomers are 15% more likely to apply to remote jobs than other generations. This could be for several reasons. Caring for children, family members, and pets become much easier in a remote work model. Older generations are more likely to spend time with family and prioritize a solid work-life balance.

How To Successfully Implement Hybrid Work

If you’re implementing a hybrid work model at your workplace, there are some best practices to ensure success. Below are some examples of the ways you can ensure productivity, employee satisfaction, and security do not suffer within a hybrid work structure.

Cyber And Physical Security

With hybrid work comes the need to implement cloud-based tools and technologies, which means you must be prepared to invest in cybersecurity. Investing in software applications, providing employees with training, finding the right security system installer, and applying zero-trust with role-based permissions will help you ensure your data is secure.

Additionally, since your in-office environment will be less occupied, you should prioritize cloud over on-premise solutions for physical security to ensure no unauthorized parties take advantage of the lack of supervision.

Time Tracking

Implementing time-tracking tools is one of the best ways to ensure your employees don’t become burnt out. Your employees can manage their time and record their hours, decreasing the pressure on performance. If your employees can see how they have spent their working hours and how many hours they have worked, they will feel more comfortable switching off at the end of the day. They will be able to understand how to manage their time more effectively or feel more motivated to prioritize focus.

Mental Health Awareness

It’s essential to stay in touch with your employees and their feelings in a hybrid work model. Without exemplary efforts, a remote work scheme can isolate employees, and they may not feel they have the support they need to perform at their best. By implementing mental health meetings, one-to-one meetings, and staying in touch with your employees’ mental well-being, you can ensure that productivity and job satisfaction do not suffer in a hybrid work model.

Summary

Each generation has a different outlook and approach to the rise of hybrid and remote working. However, most generations are benefiting financially from this change. To combat the underlying anxieties and fears about hybrid work, businesses must emphasize work-life balance, connection, and communication. By taking the right steps, businesses can ensure their employees thrive in the hybrid work environment.




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