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Hybrid working has become the new norm in France and Europe. This hybridization of work systems gives employees greater flexibility. What's more, this new way of working is attracting more and more talented people, especially younger ones looking for a better work-life balance. Telecommuting gives employees the opportunity to adjust their working hours. Working from home has become the future, and the desire to be able to work from anywhere at any time is growing: the flex office. Environmental concerns and the urgency of the situation are helping to drive these trends. Distance is no longer a problem, and has even become a way of boosting productivity. Discover the main advantages of hybrid working.
Will hybrid working take a different turn in Europe? "Without a doubt," replies Jooxter CEO Fabien Girerd. As part of our first Q&A with him, we asked him to give us some insight into how different countries are returning to the office.
You work with companies all over Europe. Do different countries adopt different approaches to office reopenings, or does everyone opt for a hybrid model?
Yes, there's definitely a difference. In general, European companies go back to the office, but they do it in a very different way. Outside Europe, in the United States, it seems as if everyone is coming back full-time and at the same time. That's not the case in Europe; it's mainly hybrid work. Perhaps it's due to governments or the productivity gains they've made. In addition, the culture has flourished in unexpected ways during confinement. Another reason could be that organizations have been able to access talent they couldn't before.
You mention that government advice is encouraging companies to adopt hybrid working. What do you mean by this?
In Greece, for example, the government has declared that hybrid working should be an option for 50% of the time from September onwards.
Is Greece the country with the most hybrid workers?
You might think so, but there are only a few companies that will be ready. It's quite surprising in a way, because companies have known about this for over a year. But it's only now that they're really getting interested, and very few of them - less than 20% in my opinion - will be ready.
Do you mean in terms of space organization?
Yes, but it's also about being ready to help staff adapt and feel confident about going into the office. It's also about having the process and technology to support it. Indeed, you need reservation systems, fast check-in facilities, and analysis tools that can tell administrative teams how and when space is being used.
Is there a country that manages to do this?
Italy is the most developed country in terms of hybrid work models and the assimilation of intelligent work technologies. This has really helped Italians cope with the fallout from the pandemic. We're seeing a willingness to provide access to employees so they can book in advance and check in at the office. A number of them are even taking steps to integrate space planning with access control systems to get a complete picture ofoffice use in real time.
For example, Deloitte has been tracking a more gradual return to the office using digital workspace management tools since May 2020. These companies are seeing better attendance, can more easily comply with safety regulations, as they can manage the workforce with ease. They also benefit from good productivity levels and better employee retention rates.
Are other countries as responsive?
Not as many as you might think. In France, companies are not yet ready to decide whether or not to adopt hybrid working. Nor do they know how to go about it if they do. I think it's closely linked to culture. Going to work is a very social experience in France, and employees sorely miss this habit of working life. The hybrid is not an alternative they really want to adopt, even though it's an important step towards getting back to normal. They would prefer a total return.
That said, some leaders could share the concept with others. For some years now, Crédit Agricole has been using intelligent design tools to maximize their office space. Today, they're ready to adapt it to meet hybrid models. For example, they encourage employees to use branch offices rather than head offices. The French offices of Deloitte and RSM have adapted an automatic office management tool to their return-to-work approach. These are international companies which will select and choose the best models in the world and apply them to their offices, or at least pilot them in other locations.
Are there any other unusual examples?
I'd say Luxembourg is perhaps one of the most interesting countries. In Luxembourg, people commute from neighboring countries such as Belgium and France, and as such, commuting to the office can affect your taxes. This adds an extraordinary dynamic, and very careful calculations are made to help employees manage hybrid working and their financial situation. As you can imagine, it's the accounting, auditing and finance departments that are at the forefront of this.
Do you think hybrid working will accelerate?
Yes, I think so. Hybrid working is definitely the way forward in Europe. More and more companies are talking to us about how they can design spaces differently and use technology toempower employees. But they're also looking at it as part of a wider strategy. We know it's possible to reduce office space by 27% and still achieve productivity gains. They want to know how to do it - how to save money while increasing productivity and linking their approach to talent attraction and retention. It can be complex, but with the right mix of technologies, it's entirely possible to emerge from the pandemic with a stronger brand image for employees and a stronger balance sheet.
If you're interested in the subject, we regularly organize expert panels on new ways of working, and you can find our transcripts here.
You can also read one of our articles detailing the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid working. We reveal all the best practices associated with this new way of working, so as to limit any excesses.
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