Trends

The trends shaping work in 2022: hyper flexibility

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No longer a perk gifted by only a handful of forward-looking companies, working from anywhere is becoming the norm.

Not so long ago, being able to work away from the office was something that had to be negotiated with employers, and more often than not they were hesitant for people to do so in case it set a precedent for others in the same company. Having an inflexible blanket rule that compelled everyone to be at their desk was the default way of operating. But not anymore…

In 2022 and beyond, a rapidly increasing number of employees will have the freedom to decide how much time they spend in the HQ, versus working from a combination of home and a local flexspace. In fact, this new level of autonomy is something that is being demanded. Recent data from a survey conducted by Regus parent company IWG revealed that almost half of all office workers would quit if asked to go back to the office five days a week. Nearly three quarters said they would prefer the option of hybrid working to a 10% pay rise, if offered the choice. So for employers, it’s clear what people want.

The power to choose

According to the US Labor Department, a record high of 4.5 million people (3% of the total workforce) left their jobs in the US in November 2021. This reflects a global upheaval in employment patterns. And following this ‘Great Resignation’, as the phenomenon has been called, the pendulum has swung the other way, as companies compete to attract talent with ever-more compelling policies and perks, offering potential hires the hours, days and locations that suit them best.

For employees, hybrid working has catalysed the trend for ‘hyper flexibility’, which gives professionals the ability to shape their job around their lifestyle. Whereas before the pandemic employers were the ones setting the agenda, during the so-called ‘Great Rehiring’ of 2022 and beyond, it will be employees who determine what work looks like and how it should be integrated into their lives. As Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO of IWG, puts it, hybrid working is no longer something that is just “nice to have”.

Regus is expanding to meet this surging demand for flexible work solutions. With hundreds more openings in the pipeline for the next 12 months and beyond, it is focused on providing convenient work hubs in the heart of communities, in the rural and suburban areas close to employees’ homes.

The increasing demand for ‘hyper flexibility’ in the workforce is one of ten trends identified in IWG’s white paper, The Future of Work: a trends forecast for 2022.

With locations in thousands of neighbourhoods all over the world, find out how Regus can help your business thrive in the new, hybrid world of work.

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