Exploring Impact of In Office vs Hybrid Work

Since the pandemic disruption five years ago, discussion and decision making over how employees work is an ever-changing conversation.

While some companies are committing to the extreme ends of the scale, committing to fully back-in-office policies or going all in on remote positions, most have settled somewhere in the middle with hybrid approaches.

This shift and split in the way we work has brought up new product and marketing research initiatives for companies that serve and support work environments. For example, we have seen companies who want to explore how to cater to and target corporate customers’ in-office workers versus hybrid workers, as different work environments have different needs for equipment, software, costs, etc.

Companies are also looking into how these trends affect recruitment, hiring, and retention practices through current and potential employee surveys and stakeholder interviews.

Here at W5, we maintain a hybrid work environment. Instead of a one-size-fits-all policy, W5ers choose what works best for them—whether that means working remotely full-time, coming into the office every day, or something in between.

Some W5ers prefer the structure and social interaction of the office, while others find they do their best work from home.

I enjoy working in the office, but after having my first child and with another on the way, the hour and a half I would spend commuting to work every day is currently much more meaningful and fulfilling spent with my family. Having the ability to shape my work environment based on what I need that day has made a huge difference in my overall well-being and efficiency.

All companies are unique and there is no universal solution. As workplace flexibility remains a hot topic, companies will continue to adapt to what works best for them. As a marketing research firm, W5 is here to support our clients’ research needs including how best to adapt to these changing times.