Not all firms want employees back in the office – some think hybrid working is still pretty great
If 2022 was marked by mass layoffs, then 2023 can be summed up by the overwhelming number of companies asking their employees to return to the office. But one study isn’t so sure about the future of office work.
Research from Riverbed found that nearly all (98%) business leaders believe hybrid work can improve talent acquisition and retention within their company.
The findings come amid a global shortage of skilled workers, leaving companies struggling to keep up with digital trends such as artificial intelligence.
Hybrid working isn’t going anywhere, says research
More than a third (34%) say they are short of IT staff, while almost half (45%) say they have enough staff but don’t have the right skills.
The research, which focuses on the financial services and insurance industries, shows that many organizations are preparing to deliver better digital employee experiences, with nine in ten (92%) believing they will need more digital tools to to meet a more modern workforce.
While remote work looks set to become an integral part of employees’ lives in the future, some office work remains relevant. Riverbed says a new approach may be needed to encourage employees to go to their formal workspace, including weekly happy hours, free coffee and snacks, and company merchandise and giveaways.
Looking ahead, it appears critical that companies deploy the latest and greatest technologies to support their hybrid workforce. Nine in ten (89%) survey participants said they would invest in technology to support hybrid workers over the next 12 to 18 months, while AI and cloud were on the tips of 50% of leaders’ tongues respectively .
Speaking about talent losses, John Atkinson, Director Solutions Engineering, UKI, at Riverbed, said: “Leaders understand the current situation and are taking proactive steps to invest in technologies such as AI and unified observability, increasing staff and customer loyalty. ”