Over the past several years, organizations worldwide have seen an unprecedented acceleration in remote and hybrid work. Before the pandemic, remote work was doubling every 15 years, yet it rose sixfold within mere months—equating to approximately 40 years of change condensed into four, as noted by WFH Research.
Now that the COVID pandemic and “new normal” conversations are largely behind us, one thing remains certain: hybrid and remote work are here to stay. A Business Insider report indicates that 80% of employees who experienced remote arrangements prefer some form of flexible schedule moving forward, and there are studies linking hybrid working arrangements to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Here, we explore the driving factors and key trends that leaders must keep in mind to navigate the hybrid world effectively in 2025 and beyond.
A New Urgency for Flexibility
Once considered a “nice-to-have” perk, flexibility has become a core expectation to attract and retain top talent in modern workplaces. Multiple factors contribute to this shift, including a heightened emphasis on work-life balance and the rising cost of commuting. And there is significant business value. A Harvard Business Review study suggests that organizations offering flexible or hybrid options see a 47% boost in employee satisfaction compared to fully in-office models, translating to higher retention rates. At the same time, FlexJobs research shows that 82% of employees now consider flexibility a key factor in job satisfaction and loyalty—underscoring how a well-structured approach to flexible work can profoundly benefit both morale and performance.
Yet, with increased flexibility come new challenges:
- Space Utilization: Once-bustling offices may now sit partially empty. According to CBRE data, average office utilization has remained under 40%, a 45% decrease from the pre-pandemic global average of 64%. This is a massive financial burden and a detractor for retaining top talent—and leaders feel the pressure to solve the problem. To do this, they are faced with three options: to reconfigure existing spaces, invest in new layouts, or reduce real estate altogether. And figuring out which approach to take is easier said than done.
- Collaboration and Culture: Hybrid teams often juggle multiple communication channels—email, video calls, chat threads—which can foster silos if left unmanaged. Conversely, a PwC survey shows that organizations that establish clear guidelines for communication boosted team trust by 26%. Practical steps might include weekly all-hands syncs, structured agendas for remote/in-office meetings, and consistent forums for casual social interactions. When leaders reinforce a unifying mission and share essential updates widely, cultural cohesion can thrive despite geographical dispersion.
- Technology Infrastructure: Behind any successful hybrid model lies a robust digital backbone. Many enterprises leverage cloud-based productivity suites, shared repositories, and integrated communication tools to enable real-time collaboration from anywhere. A recent WhatFix report found that investing in these kinds of comprehensive digital workplace platforms can drive up to a 43% increase in revenue. Ensuring employees have secure, reliable access—whether they are on-site or at home—is equally critical. By standardizing best practices around connectivity, authentication, and data privacy, companies create a seamless experience for distributed teams.
With all this in mind, it is important to develop a hybrid strategy that overcomes these challenges and effectively serves both employees and organizations. This will require increased focus on three key areas:
1. Trust and Engagement
In a Forbes survey, many employees cited that anxiety increases and productivity plummets when managers track time too closely instead of focusing on meaningful results. Conversely, their productivity increases when they feel trusted and empowered to get the job done, with 61% of employees noting in the same survey that they are more productive working away from the office. Furthermore, a recent surveys by Owl Labs indicates that 98% of workers desire some level of flexibility, emphasizing the need to prioritize deliverables over presence.
With this in mind, successfully shifting to hybrid work calls for well-defined goals, open communication channels, and performance metrics that spotlight results. Leaders can encourage teams to set project milestones collectively, with progress visible through shared dashboards or periodic check-ins. By creating transparent expectations—like documenting responsibilities and timelines—organizations build accountability without micromanagement, reducing burnout and fostering genuine engagement.
2. Data-Driven Decisions
Capturing real-time occupancy and utilization data is vital to right-sizing in today’s dynamic work environments. Solutions like Accruent Space Intelligence (ASI) offer integrated analytics that unify desk and room booking data, lease information, and facility maintenance insights in one central platform. By visualizing how teams occupy spaces over time using this kind of tool, organizations can identify underutilized zones, reconfigure office layouts, and reduce their real estate footprint strategically. And some are already getting this right: recent industry findings by CBRE show that space planning efficiencies have increased global office occupancy rates by approximately 20%, enabling many organizations to reduce their portfolio size by up to 30%. This translates to significant cost savings and more functional work areas that align with employee needs.
3. Employee Well-Being
Organizations are also paying closer attention to mental health. A Calm Business infographic shows that 42% of subscribers experience work-related stress, and the NAMI 2024 Workplace Mental Health Poll highlights burnout for 52% of employees. While hybrid schedules can help alleviate some pressures, they must be paired with supportive processes and equitable workloads. Flexible meeting policies, virtual mental health resources, and designated “focus hours” can all foster a healthier, more engaged workforce. When approached holistically, hybrid models become enablers of well-being rather than sources of stress.
Looking Ahead
Trust, data-driven decisions, and employee well-being depend on each other. Real-time usage metrics (Data) can inform transparent leadership choices (Trust), creating a workplace where employees feel safe to voice concerns about their workloads or burnout (Well-Being). With a unified approach—and the right tools like Accruent Space Intelligence—hybrid work can transition from a stopgap measure into a cornerstone of long-term organizational success.
Stay Tuned for More
This post kicks off our “Unifying Built Environments for 2025 and Beyond” series, where we will dive deeper into building collaboration within hybrid teams, illuminating how mental health ties directly to productivity, and demonstrating how data-backed insights guide strategic real estate decisions. Whether you are exploring ways to optimize existing offices or to cultivate a more engaged organizational culture, our goal is to provide practical advice that connects physical spaces, digital tools, and mindsets.
In our next article, we will spotlight proven methods for increasing trust and collaboration—alongside a short video on adopting outcomes-based metrics for hybrid success. While you reflect on your organization’s current setup, consider whether your space management approach aligns with these evolving demands. With solutions like Accruent Space Intelligence, you can transform real-time data into powerful insights, reinforcing a flexible, robust environment where everyone thrives.
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