Flex Index

Our Q4 2024 #FlexReport is now live! ?? https://bit.ly/3yNEYit The #RTO debate is heating up. Major companies like Amazon, Dell Technologies, and The Washington Post are pushing for full-time in-office work, while political shifts may mandate office presence for government employees. But is this a universal trend or just isolated cases? Our latest report explores the emerging workplace trends beyond the headlines. Here's a little sneak peek of what's inside ??

Last year, we took a deep dive look at #flexibility trends in the UK corporate landscape. Our research revealed that 72% of UK employers offer work location flexibility, with only 28% requiring full-time office attendance. Among those offering flexibility, 44% implement Structured Hybrid models with specific in-office expectations, while 28% provide Full Flexibility. It will be interesting to track how these UK flexibility trends evolve, particularly as the US market reassesses #remotework policies in response to productivity concerns and changing economic conditions.

Is "boreout" the new burnout? According to The Wharton School Adam Grant, feeling underwhelmed at work is becoming a major cause of #workplace unhappiness, especially in #remote settings. So what does Adam suggest to combat boreout? ?? Make meaningful connections with colleagues ?? Find overlap between personal values and your work ??♂? Add variety to your daily tasks ?? Turn cameras off occasionally in virtual meetings Read more ?? https://bit.ly/3XZsBJA

As companies mandate full-time #RTO, working parents are feeling the squeeze. JPMorganChase, Amazon, Dell Technologies, and others have recently implemented 5-day #RTO mandates, often with minimal notice. The childcare equation has dramatically changed, with 74% of working parents now back in the office full or part-time. Many are scrambling to find early morning drop-offs or after-school care options that have long been filled. What's fascinating is that while some companies are investing in expensive on-site childcare facilities, the most requested accommodation from parents is simply "flexible start and end times." Learn more ?? https://bit.ly/3XWjfOE

During his #FlexPerspectives episode, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky shared an evergreen insight worth revisiting ?? Leadership teams and employees experience the workplace fundamentally differently. This perspective gap becomes even more significant when implementing #hybridwork models. Check out the full episode to explore data-driven approaches, effective communication strategies, and asynchronous work practices that bridge that gap—providing a practical roadmap for unlocking the full potential of your hybrid work model: https://bit.ly/4iOo6JO

New data out from?Stanford University's Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR)?revealed that just 12% of the executives that currently have hybrid or remote workers report plans for an #RTO mandate in the year ahead. Many of these mandates don’t involve a full return to onsite work—in fact, more than a quarter of planned RTOs will require onsite work only 1 to 4 days a week.

New #SWAA data from their monthly #WFHResearch shows how traditional office workers are blending work styles. Even among those who commute to work 5+ days weekly: ? 26.8% did work from home on Fridays — over 1 in 4 full time office workers ? Wednesdays show the second highest #WFH rate at 17.6% ? Mondays have the lowest remote work at just 9.3% The pandemic didn't just create remote workers—it normalized #flexibility for everyone. Even dedicated office workers are finding ways to balance in-person #collaboration with the convenience of handling some tasks from home. Get the full monthly report here ?? https://bit.ly/3FjfHzO

Everybody was not kung fu fighting, and everybody's not returning to the office. You can sing the first part, some CEOs can proclaim the second part, but neither is true. New data out from Stanford University and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta polls executives on their return-to-office plans and finds: ?? 12% of execs with a hybrid or remote policy plan an RTO mandate in 2025. ?? 14% of execs would reduce remote work -- and 2% would increase remote -- if a recession hit and unemployment spiked to 8%. ?? The impact? <1% net reduction in work from home days of among all employees (includes frontline workers). What's going on here? Headlines get written about firms changing policies, not the ones who don't. Plenty of CEOs out there who aren't remote work adherents, but aren't changing policies: what they're doing is working well enough, their teams are distributed, and wasting internal energy on a minor factor is dumb. Nick Bloom and the other authors also note that 44% of employees say they wouldn't comply with a five day mandate. Others get the combination of economic and competitive advantages. Even in an increasingly bad job market, if you want data scientists and other high-demand people, flexibility is an advantage. ICYMI, Verizon's been targeting AT&T folks on exactly that basis. Congrats Nick, Jose Maria Barrero, Steven J. Davis, Kevin Foster, and Emil Mihaylov. ?? Check out the report, linked in comments! #ReturnToOffice #RTO #WFH #Remote #HybridWork #FutureOfWork

Middle managers are caught in the crossfire as Gen Z resists returning to the office while leadership pushes for #RTO. A recent YouGov survey found that 41% of Gen Z want to work from home all or most of the time. Meanwhile, executives are rethinking #hybrid policies and showing less flexibility. So how can middle managers navigate this tension effectively? ? Focus on transparency and building trust ? Clearly communicate the personal benefits of office time ? Emphasize growth opportunities that come with in-person work ? Find the right balance between flexibility and collaboration ? Recognize Gen Z's desire for autonomy in their work The most successful managers will be those who can bridge this gap by creating purpose-driven office experiences while still honoring the need for flexibility. What strategies have worked in your organization to balance RTO expectations? Share your thoughts below!

This just in: Governor Newsom has ordered California state workers to return to office 4 days a week starting July 1. "In-person work makes us all stronger—period," Newsom stated, citing improved collaboration, innovation, and accountability. While some exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis, union leadership has criticized the move as "out of touch" and financially burdensome for workers who've proven remote work's effectiveness. Thoughts on this shift back to in-office work?