The rise of work flexibility: a lasting structural shift
If there were any lingering doubts, it’s time to put them to rest: flexibility in the world of work is here to stay - and it represents a true structural shift.
This is the direction the fourth edition of McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey (AOS), which explores Americans’ views on economic opportunity, the obstacles they face, and the path forward toward more sustainable and inclusive growth in the US, points to. Released in May, this time it focuses on Americans’ perspectives on flexible work.
In fact, hybrid and remote work have stabilized: 40% of American workers report working remotely (12% fully, 28% partially), a slight decrease from 2022, when that figure reached 42% (14% fully, 29% partially).
However, the report highlights that:
“If remote-work policies were based exclusively on worker preferences, they might increase, because 54 percent of workers indicated a preference for them.”
And, unsurprisingly:
“Flexible-work models (which include remote work and other features, such as the ability to bring a child to work) remained one of the top three motivations for seeking a new job in 2024 (outranked only by more pay or hours and better career opportunities).”
This helps explain why, in 2024:
“Workers were willing to leave their jobs for more flexible work, with 17 percent of recent quitters leaving in the past year because of changes to their working arrangements.”
These findings shouldn’t be overlooked by employers, who - as the study warns - must “make choices that match their talent needs with market realities”.
Because, really:
“Remote work could be used as a tool to attract and retain talent alongside other flexibility offerings (including flexible scheduling or more time off).”
The report also shows that workers with higher levels of education and income not only have greater access to remote work, but they’re also the groups that prefer it the most.
At the same time, women expressed a stronger preference for remote work compared to men. As the report notes, “during the pandemic, it was widely understood that women preferred work-from-home models because of the childcare flexibility”, yet new data shows that even women without children at home “were also more likely than their male counterparts to prefer working from home”.
What about fully on-site work?
In parallel, there’s a growing trend: in 2022, 53% of American workers were fully on-site - that figure rose to 58% in 2024.
Still, compared to pre-pandemic levels, workers now go into the office about 30% less frequently, on average.
On-site work remains particularly relevant among younger workers. The report reveals that the youngest workers surveyed (those aged 18 to 25) were the least enthusiastic about remote work: 36% preferred it, compared with 59% of those aged 25-34, 58% of those aged 35-54, 51% of those aged 55-64, and 46% of those 65 and older.
This may be due to the fact that younger workers are just starting their careers, and recognize the value of team interaction and support that in-person settings provide.
Thus, on-site work still plays an important role, especially in career development and organizational culture, but its value needs to be reaffirmed - not imposed.
The present - and the future - calls for more intentional, adaptable workplaces that foster meaningful experiences and put people at the center.
The study leaves us with two key insights:
1️⃣
“Employers must balance attracting and retaining more educated, experienced, and higher-earning talent with the need to deliver a compelling on-site experience for younger workers.”
2️⃣
“Cognizant that return-to-office mandates could drive away more senior talent, some companies are experimenting with alternate ways of co-locating. For example, ‘anchor weeks’ gather employees on-site for specific chunks of time. Other companies require ‘all hands on deck’ for training, onboarding of new hires, and other specific events.”
And last but not least, this redefinition of the office obviously poses important challenges for the real estate sector - which must now redesign office spaces to meet evolving employee expectations.
Of course, LACS could be your company’s ideal partner - offering all the right conditions for your team and business to thrive, with lower costs and all the flexibility.
Reach out to us and let’s find the perfect solution for you, together.
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