64% of workers prefer the hybrid modality

Hybrid work was one of the changes in the labor market that remained after the pandemic, and although in 2023 many companies are returning to their past models, the possibility of spending time at home is still the most attractive for some workers, and also executives.

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A study carried out by WeWork in partnership with Michael Page, 64% of people in the country consider that the hybrid model (face-to-face and remote) is the best option for the development of your work activities.

To gauge the employment trends that are gaining strength the most, the firm surveyed more than 8,000 employees from six countries. In the case of Colombia, it found that 63% of workers changed their work modality as a result of the pandemic.

Before the arrival of covid-19, most workers (84%) had a face-to-face work system and only 7% of the workers were under a remote work scheme, and 9% had a hybrid modality; With the arrival of covid-19, 86% of workers went home in the country, only 5% continued to go to their work spaces and 9% adopted hybrid work.

And after the health emergency, the panorama was reconfigured again, with 65% of workers in a hybrid model, only 5% in a remote scheme and only 10% in a fully face-to-face mode.

As in the rest of the countries included in the study, Colombian professionals find this scheme the most attractive with 64% popularity, and according to the report, this due to its high relationship with issues of productivity and quality of life.

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This is because for the majority of Colombian workers, the biggest challenge of fully face-to-face work has to do with the time lost in commuting from home to work and from work to home, something that worries more than 90% of those surveyed.

In fact, four out of ten study participants in the country detailed that, after the experiences of the pandemic, “a period of 30-40 minutes to travel from home to the workplace is what they would be willing to invest”.

In addition, they recognize that in offices there are other elements that make the model less attractive, such as distractions in the office and limited time management.

But in the hybrid model not everything is perfect. According to the survey, respondents, the main challenge of this type of work is in the lack of interaction with peers and leaders, and the lack of visibility of their work that this generates. Hence, Colombians also consider it important to have a connection space with their colleagues, and other areas of their environment.

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“What we observe in the country is that today Colombian companies must rethink the value offer for their employees, since what society is asking for is precisely to achieve a balance between personal and work life.“, indicated Juan Carlos Peñaloza, Country Manager of WeWork Colombia and Costa Rica.

Another element that the We Work study highlights is the impacts derived from the hybrid work model. The most relevant is the impact on labor productivity, something recognized by 85% of workers, followed by a positive effect on mental health (81%).

For 73% of workers the hybrid work scheme has a positive impact on creative processeswhile 69% recognize that it strengthens growth opportunities and 46% loyalty to the company.

Another conclusion is that for 86% of those interviewed, flexibility has a positive impact on their state of mind and this is even stronger in young workers, since for 91% of those surveyed from generations Y (millennials) and Z (centennials) flexibility Flexibility is one of the three main elements in choosing whether or not to change jobs.

LAURA LUCIA BECERRA ELEJALDE
Journalist Portfolio