As HR leaders, you’ve probably heard a lot about the recent shifts in the industry, like Amazon’s decision to bring back a five-day in-office workweek and a recent KPMG study showing that CEOs are convinced workers should return to the office for good.

However, new data from Owl Labs show the opposite: hybrid and remote work is stronger than at least a year ago.

“Despite the misconception that most employees are now back in the office full-time, the reality is that hybrid and remote work continue to grow and they’re taking back share from fully in-office work,” said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs.

Let's dive in.

Hybrid and Remote Work Continue to Grow

27% of workers are working in a hybrid format - up one percentage point from 2023 - and 11% are fully remote - an increase from 7% in 2023. 

Most Popular and Favorite Hybrid Number: Three Days Per Week

Many hybrid workers wish for fewer office days. Three days a week remains the most popular number of in-office days for hybrid workers, with 41% reporting how often they go in. Three days a week is also the favorite number of days in-office for all hybrid workers. Actually, according to the latest hybrid work statistics, 2-3 days per week is now considered the 'perfect harmony' between how often employees prefer to come into the office and their leadership's expectations.

Meanwhile, according to the survey, 38% of workers said that requiring them to work in the office full-time would make them decline a job offer, and 50% think filling empty real estate is the main reason they are required to work in the office.

1 in 5 Workers Are Willing To Give Up Income for More Flexible Schedule

The study showed hybrid workers spend an average of $61 daily at the office, a 20% increase from $51 in 2023. The cost of working from home also increased, but only slightly, up to $19 per day, compared to $15 a day in 2023. This may be why 22% of hybrid workers said that if they were no longer allowed to work remotely or hybrid, they would expect a pay increase to compensate for the additional costs. 

At the same time, nearly 1 in 5 workers (19%) would be willing to give up 10% of their annual income for a 4-day work week with more flexible working hours or a better health insurance plan.

Finally, the study found that the cost to employers must be addressed when nearly 1 in 3 (32%) employees said it takes them 1-3 months to fully get up to speed in their jobs after being recruited and hired.

‍“Coffee Badging” Declines as Employers Tighten Policies

“Coffee badging” – the ongoing viral trend of showing up at the office long enough for a cup of coffee before returning home to work – persists but has seen a decline from 2023 from 58% to now 44% of hybrid workers, who admit of coffee badging and another 11% would like to try it, a 38% increase in interest from last year.

Employers are becoming more aware of "coffee badging," with 70% of workers being caught by their bosses. Read my guide on how to address coffee badging here.

Interestingly, 59% of employees reported that their employers didn’t mind coffee badging, with managers being more likely to engage in the practice (47%). In response, some companies have started using tracking software, and 46% of employees noted an increase in monitoring over the past year. 

Meanwhile, according to the study, using employee monitoring tools has raised privacy concerns, as 46% of employees reported that their employers have increased or implemented tracking software. 

A significant majority, 86%, believe it should be legally required for companies to disclose if they are using these monitoring tools, reflecting rising discomfort with workplace surveillance practices.

As HR  leaders, I’m sure you’d like to know more about how to prevent time theft without having to monitor your employees. See our guide here.

Supportive Managers As Valuable to Employees As Their Paychecks

The study revealed the importance of having a supportive boss, or "green flag boss," matters as much as a paycheck. This year, employees said a supportive manager (92%) is the most critical factor in their work behind compensation (94%). According to the study, a lack of support from a boss, especially in terms of guidance and mentorship, can lead 19% of workers to consider leaving.

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‍Read my guide about how leaders can tackle disengagement among employees here.

‍The Art of “Calendar Blocking”

More than half (58%) of U.S employees block off slots in their calendars that aren’t for meetings to protect their time – a productivity technique known as “calendar blocking.” 

‍Full-time office workers (64%) are twice as likely to use calendar blocking compared to hybrid (28%) and remote (8%) workers, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted productivity in busy environments.

In this regard, Millennial workers are found to block their calendars more than any other generation, at 57%. (I also wrote about certain behaviors of different age groups in the workplace and how to engage them here).

Some companies, like Owl Labs, take this further by implementing No Meeting Days, allowing employees uninterrupted focus time. This practice helps workers manage their time effectively and balance work demands more efficiently.

Over one in five workers (22%) are setting boundaries by refusing tasks outside their job descriptions, and 20% avoid responding to work communications after hours, reflecting the rise of “right to disconnect” laws. 

Increased AI Tool Adoption Expected as a Future Trend

The Owl Labs study found that nearly 3 out of 4 employees (72%) have used an AI tool to aid them in performing their jobs, with 23% saying they use it multiple times per day, reflecting the adoption of technology in general and AI tools in particular to enhance productivity.

See our guide for the top 100 Generative for Work Tools here (updated September 2024)

The Bottom Line

As stated, despite all the misconceptions, hybrid and remote work are going strong, as employees are pushing more for flexibility, with some even willing to sacrifice a portion of their annual income for a more flexible working schedule. 41% of the surveyed workers will look for a new job if the current one doesn't give them the hybrid opportunity.

“Some employees see the value of the office but want to go there on their own terms and despite job market fluctuations, they continue to remain firm on wanting flexibility in where they work. Common deterrents in today’s offices that employers should be aware of include political chats, distractions during time needed for solo deep work, and expensive commutes.” – Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs

What do you think of these findings and data? If you need anything else or would like to leave a comment about this topic, feel free to reach out to me here.

‍For more about hybrid remote work, check out our 2024 guide to hybrid work, the top desk booking software, and our 2024 guide to hybrid office design and management.

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