Understanding the Hybrid Workplace
Hybrid Work in 2025
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01
The Shift in Work Patterns
Since 2019, hybrid work has gone from niche
to norm. Just 20% of remote-capable
employees now work fully on-site, while
more than half work in a hybrid
arrangement (Gallup, 2024). Employees
overwhelmingly prefer this model: 90% want
some form of remote flexibility, and 50% say
they'd consider leaving if forced back to the
office full-time.
But hybrid doesn't mean hands-off for
management. Inconsistent in-office
attendance, uncoordinated team schedules,
and underused space are common
headaches. Without the right systems in
place, hybrid work can create just as many
challenges as it solves.
02
A Volatile Landscape
The hybrid workplace is still a work in
progress. Many companies have attempted
sweeping return-to-office mandates in
recent years—only to see them met with
resistance or quiet defiance. As of early
2025, 1 in 5 U.S. workers is still ignoring RTO
policies, and some HR leaders have admitted
the real intent of mandates is to reduce
headcount rather than foster collaboration.
This disconnect has led to performative
behaviors like "coffee badging," where
employees make brief appearances to
comply with policy, but not with intent. At
the same time, half of U.S. workers now say
they prefer employers who offer flexibility for
remote work, underscoring a shift in
employee expectations. The message is
clear: return policies that lack supporting
infrastructure will continue to falter and
mandates alone do not motivate meaningful
office presence.
1
of 5
workers is still ignoring RTO policies
