Companies of all sizes might be encouraging team members to return to the office, but that doesn’t mean the demand flexibility has disappeared. More than 75% of Fortune 100 companies work on a flexible schedule, and our own research has uncovered that the majority of businesses are prioritizing flexible working strategies to boost productivity, and engagement, while reducing costs.
Embracing flexibility in the workplace offers companies a unique opportunity to enhance collaboration and team satisfaction, reduce office expenses, and adhere to changing trends. After all, in the UK, employees now have the legal right to request flexible work.
Here’s why you should invest in flexible work technologies heading into 2025 and beyond.
1. Flexible Work Improves Employee Satisfaction
Skill shortages have emerged as a major issue in every industry, forcing companies to work harder to retain their top talent. Unfortunately, inflexible offices actually drive employees away from businesses. Studies show that around half of companies with rigid “return to work” policies experienced increased employee attrition.
Flexible workspace solutions, from customizable meeting rooms to hot desking systems, ensure you can meet changing employee expectations without compromising productivity and performance. The right solutions will help you contribute to employee wellness by accommodating different working styles and preferences, reducing burnout, and minimizing stress.
2. Improve Adherence to RTO Mandates
As mentioned above, plenty of companies are implementing return to office mandates as of 2024, but not all of these mandates are successful. Companies without the right environments and tools in place to accommodate flexible workers are seeing an increase in noncompliance with office policies.
One study even found up to 40% of managers ignore return to office requests regularly. To encourage team members back into the office, you need to create spaces where they’ll feel as productive and comfortable as they would at home.
Simple strategies, like implementing “BYOM” and “BYOD” policies, so employees can continue to use the technology they feel comfortable with make a huge difference. Even creating focus rooms for people who need help eliminating distractions can be beneficial.
3. Enhance Flexible Work Productivity
Various studies have shown that flexible working practices can improve productivity by allowing individuals to choose the “best environment” for their specific needs. Flexible working can improve productivity and engagement by ensuring team members feel trusted by their managers.
However, that productivity boost can suffer if teams don’t have access to the right flexible work technologies. Beyond simply ensuring professionals have the meeting rooms they need to connect with distributed colleagues and crucial amenities like computers and desks, companies need cutting-edge tech to turbocharge productivity.
Solutions like Microsoft Places, for instance, which allow employees to track which team members will be in the office on any given day, can help staff organize their office time more effectively.
4. Boost Collaboration and Creativity
Various forms of flexible working strategies can significantly impact team creativity and collaboration. Hot desking solutions and office neighborhoods, for instance, allow team members to connect and share ideas with people they wouldn’t usually interact with.
This leads to greater cross-functional collaboration, better networking opportunities, and enhanced problem-solving among teams. Creating flexible environments where team members can collaborate with all kinds of different stakeholders also helps to enhance company culture.
The more team members can connect with each other, whether their colleagues are inside or outside of the office, the happier they’ll be in their roles. Even focus spaces can help boost creativity by giving team members a way to disconnect from the office regularly. One study found 41% of workers felt more energized after using a focus space.
