In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid work, which mixes office work and home work, is becoming a new trend in the United States.
investment media <배런스>Citing data from US security firm Castle Systems, he said that over the past month, office occupancy in 10 major US cities has risen to around half of pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels for the first time since March 2020 Mark Ein, chairman of Castle Systems, explained that the company’s market share was increasing with the introduction of a three to four day office attendance system.
By day of the week, the fill rate recovered to around 60% from Monday to Thursday, with the lowest being 30% on the Friday before the weekend. “Working in the office from Tuesday to Thursday is becoming the new normal,” says Nicholas Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford University.
Since the beginning of this year, major US companies such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Disney have faced opposition from employees by completely eliminating telecommuting or increasing the number of office days. Says Barrons, “Corporate executives and workers are in conflict over work patterns.
Instead of requiring a five-day office, many companies in the US are embracing hybrid work. At the same time, some workers recognize the positive aspects of going to the office, such as collaboration, better communication and the separation of work and personal space.
In fact, according to a survey conducted by US employment portal ‘Glassdoor’ in 2021, 96% of workers responded that they would return to the office in some form, and 66% said they “eagerly hope to return to the office.” WFH Research, a consultancy that studies work patterns, explained that employees want to work remotely beyond the level allowed by the company, but companies are also adapting their work patterns to meet the needs of their employees.
According to a Gallup survey by a market research company, employee engagement has declined for two consecutive years since 2020, when Corona 19 began after growing steadily for more than 10 years. The study found that employees who went to the office and those who still worked remotely experienced a decrease in engagement. In particular, it was found that employees who continue to work from home have weakened their sense of responsibility for their work.
According to Gallup, a good mix of office hours and remote hours is the best way to increase employee engagement. Gallup senior scientist Jim Harter, who conducted the study, said: “If companies don’t embrace hybrid work, they will have a harder time attracting and retaining great employees.”
Harter noted that in most companies today, managers either make decisions about how to work and inform employees, or give employees the option to make their own decisions, and neither the other is ideal. Harter explained that it is better for team members to discuss the details of a hybrid work policy together.
The hybrid work system is also affecting the US commercial real estate market. Peter Miskovic, director of real estate consultancy JLL, said many of his clients were expanding offices or renovating existing spaces to attract talent. Some companies are moving to new buildings or buildings with better technical infrastructure and welfare facilities. “Industry, workforce composition, commuting patterns, building location, and more—companies are considering more factors when looking for office space than they did 10 years ago,” Miskovic said.
Professor Bloom predicts that around 10% of American jobs will remain remote, and all companies in the future will have a mix of office, remote and hybrid work. Harter, a senior scientist at Gallup, argued that “hybrid systems, when implemented properly, can significantly improve an organization’s productivity.”
