Jan. 31, 2022 - If somebody would have told you pre-pandemic that a hybrid work policy, hybrid meeting technology or flexible working hours would turn out to be key influencers for employee experience, you probably would have smiled. But as our recent ClickShare hybrid meeting research shows, 1 in 3 considers changing jobs because of issues with hybrid work. Organizations have to be sharp, flexible and innovative to recruit and keep talent in the hybrid workplace. And they can turn their digital infrastructure into a real asset.

As businesses continue to feel the implications of the Great Resignation, recent ClickShare research has pointed out that in today's workplace working conditions are as important as salaries to attract and retain employees. We've established a clear correlation between hybrid work and employer attractiveness. The hybrid and remote office-based work situation simply is a given in certain jobs and employees expect from their employers to be fully equipped for that. With much needed policies, technology and redesigned offices. If these expectations are not fully met, job satisfaction is in real danger, as a staggering 1 in 3 is thinking of moving jobs because of frictions with hybrid work.

"Prior to the pandemic, remote or hybrid work often was considered a perk, or even something that workers could feel guilty asking for," says Lieven Bertier, Segment Marketing Director Workplace at Barco. "Now, as employees have shown they can remain productive from a variety of locations, the appetite for a functional hybrid model grows. Our Survey reiterates how companies who fail to offer employees the leverage and tools to work wherever and however they like - and eliminate the stresses that come with doing so - may risk losing them to another organization that does."

Finding the employee-experience sweet spot

Finding the employee-experience ‘sweet spot' will enable businesses to thrive. They can benefit from the fresh perspectives and digital skills of the younger generations. Key focus areas in this war for talent will be inclusion, flexibility, individualism, entrepreneurship, well-being, purpose and personal development.

“One of our top priorities is to prepare Intel's global teams for the future of work. From the crisis, came an opportunity to reimagine how people can work and collaborate together. For us, in part, this means positioning the tech company as hybrid-first,” Christy Pambianchi, executive vice president and chief people officer of Intel explains why the company is adopting a hybrid-first model to win the war for top talent.

Remote work burnout and hybrid meeting stress are more dangerous than Zoom fatigue

Employees clearly consider hybrid work as a true differentiator. They want flexibility and agility from their employer and want to be able to decide when and where they work. Remote work burnout and stress caused by hybrid work accelerate their decision to hop jobs. According to the Microsoft Work Trend Index 40% of the global workforce considered leaving their employer in the next year. And our own research shows a clear correlation between the number of hybrid work issues – lack of policies and encountering tech problems in hybrid meetings - and the intention to leave the company.

73% of workers consider switching jobs because their employer lacks hybrid work policies

1 in 3 considers job offers from a company that has well-defined hybrid work policies in place

44% of employees who encounter technical issues during hybrid meetings, think about leaving the company within 6 months. Younger employees and middle management even more so.

How can businesses win the war for talent?

To many, encouraging hybrid working models is an indicator of a well thought-out and considerate HR policy. And the contrary is a reason to leave. It's high time for a pro-active approach to avoid a brain drain.

• Start with a change in company culture and shifting to flexible hybrid work - Some of the most famous examples are Spotify's Work from Anywhere policy and Google's hybrid approach to work, already launched in May 2021. They are firm believers of the fact that workers have the right to choose their own work mode (home or office work or a mix of both) and the location from which they work. Work isn't something you come to the office for, but it's something you 'do'.
• Start to build a framework & policies - It seems many businesses still have some work cut out for them, as only 4 in 10 companies currently have hybrid work blueprints. And only 50% has started to map out the hybrid needs of their employees.
• Gear up workspaces and digital infrastructure - IT-managers and Facility manages have the challenge to prepare the workplace for hybrid work and meeting. Are all in-office workplaces fully ready for hybrid work? Sometimes improvements to the home office will be necessary to reduce emotional challenges and increase productivity. 6 in 10 find it hard to get noticed as off-site participant and 31% can't read body language or social cues. Investing in the right tech - like a decent camera and speakers or collaboration tools - to create a seamless experience for all users, will be the crucial to make the link from home to the hybrid meeting room seamless.
• Don't lose sight of meeting equity - In the new hybrid workplace meeting equity has become more than just a buzzword. Adding remote participants to a meeting, makes collaboration more complex and less intuitive. There's an actual, physical distance between participants in video meetings. They no longer sit together in the same space, there are virtual and physical walls separating them. Remote meeting participants can have a hard time to get a seat at the virtual, hybrid table. Balancing meeting equity, belonging and digital inclusion is therefore a prio for organizations that want to thrive in the new reality.
• Communicate - Get everyone on board. Workers and leaders. Current and future employees. Avoid a talent loss, re-assure your own experts, offer them a bigger sense of belonging and a built-in flexibility. In addition, use your hybrid work offering and infrastructure as conversation starters when recruiting. You'll transit smoother into tomorrow's digital workstyle and preferably ahead of your competition!

To conclude

Organizations urgently need to tackle hybrid work on every level of the workplace. Still, with the right focus companies can turn challenges into opportunities and use hybrid work as a true selling point in the war for talent.