The Hybrid Work Era: A Major Social Transformation
The introduction of hybrid work in our daily lives was a real revolution. It's a transformation that has touched almost every facet of our lives, and whose impact is felt far beyond our personal workspace.
Understanding the Hybrid Work Landscape
Over the past two years, work habits have changed considerably. More and more employees are now alternating between working from home and working in the office, a practice called hybrid working.
This change has led to a redesign of our travel habits and has had a significant impact on public transit, economic activity and even urban planning.
Flexible workspace is no longer just an option ; it has become a new norm that is redefining the way we work and interact.
Measuring Hybrid Work: A Titanic Task
Measuring the impact of this transformation is a major challenge. To do this, the New York City Department of Planning has taken an innovative approach.
Based on mobility data provided by mobile phones, researchers can draw up an accurate map of the movements and behaviors of city residents. This task was given to Placer Labs Inc., a company that specializes in analyzing foot traffic data in office buildings.
The Impact of Hybrid Work on Transport and the Economy
It's obvious that the shift to hybrid work has profound implications for transport and the city's economy. But what exactly is this impact?
Hybrid Work and Public Transport
The data collected shows a significant decrease in the use of public transit.
According to the government-funded study, mid-week subway ridership is still only 70% of pre-pandemic levels. This suggests a lasting impact of adopting hybrid work on the use of public transit.
Hybrid Work and the Local Economy
The impact of hybrid work is not limited to transportation. It also has an impact on the local economy.
Indeed, the expenses of workers in Manhattan have fallen significantly, with a decrease of more than $12.4 billion per year compared to the pre-pandemic era.
This has a major impact on the local economy and on the city's tax revenues. In addition, the value of office buildings fell by 44%, highlighting the economic challenges that hybrid working poses to owners of commercial office space.
The Future of Work: Flexibility and Physical Presence
As hybrid work seems to be emerging as a new norm, it is essential to think about its future and its long-term impact.
Hybrid Work: A New Normal
The move to a hybrid work model doesn't seem to be just a passing fad. On the contrary, this trend seems sustainable and brings with it its share of challenges and opportunities for employers and workers.
Physical Presence: An Asset for Career Advancement
Despite the rise of hybrid work, physical presence in the workplace is still very important.
It remains a crucial factor for career advancement and relationship building. So it's clear that office culture will continue to play an important role in the future of work.
The Role of Flex Office Software in Hybrid Work
At the heart of this new work environment, flex office software is becoming increasingly important.
They make it possible to effectively manage shared workspaces, optimize the use of resources, and facilitate communication between team members. By helping to make hybrid working not only possible, but also productive and enjoyable, they are a key piece of the flexible working revolution.
In addition, some tools such as m-work also allow each organization to have a micro and macro view of the impact of hybrid work on its own functioning, in particular with monitoring travel time and the carbon impact associated with travel.