The Work Boulevard

Feb 21, 2025

The Evolution of Work Styles: How COVID-19 Shaped the Future of Work

Is the future fully remote?

Hands up, how many people believed offices would be a thing of the past by now? Once Covid-19 force-fed us a taste of partial-to-fully remote work, many of us thought we would never go back. 

Analytics company Gallup released research in 2023 that “56% of 125 million full-time U.S. workers said they don’t have to be in the workplace anymore because they discovered—thanks to the pandemic—that they can do their jobs from home.”

Fully-remote work seemed to be the way forward. It saves a business so much in rent, facilities, equipment…team lunches. It gives employees the flexibility to work in their own way. 

Gallup’s research found that a staggering 90% of U.S. employees with office jobs are not longing for the old workplace to return, and nearly 40% of them say they would change jobs for the option to work full- or part-time from a flexible (non-office) location.

Yet, the latest research shows that working together in an office actually plays a key role in boosting work culture, employee engagement and team collaboration. Apparently, we needed time away from the office in order to recognise its value. 

What are the benefits of in-person time at the office?

For all our apparent love of fully remote work, it does come with its challenges. 

When all meetings and work-related activities are conducted virtually, more and more people are complaining of “Zoom fatigue”. People who prefer a clear divide between work and home life struggle with maintaining work-life balance in a fully remote world. Mental health has taken a hit.

So has employee engagement. Gallup’s research shows that it is rapidly declining. “The declines have been greatest in these areas: employees knowing what’s expected of them; seeing how their work contributes to the mission or purpose of the organisation; having opportunities to learn and grow; being able to do what they do best; and feeling cared about by their manager or someone in the organisation.”

Because employee engagement is directly correlated with customer retention, it is crucial for companies to find ways to keep their teams engaged. And one failsafe way to boost engagement is with in-person time together. It matters for building trust, innovation, spontaneous discussions, solving problems and keeping morale high.

That is not to say things are returning to pre-pandemic office work norms. Far from it.

The best of both worlds

Analysts around the world are unanimous that hybrid work is the future. So far it has proven to be the most rapidly growing and sustainable trend. 

Why? Because it provides the best of both. 

Employees can benefit from in-person time together without losing their flexibility. Organisations can attract and retain talent by catering to a variety of work preferences: both those who like a clear divide between work and home, and those who prefer to work in a more “blended” way. 

Hybrid work requires a commitment from both the employer and the employer, as research from Gallup shows. The employer needs to schedule in-person time at the office properly, to provide predictability and make the commute worth it. Employees need to be willing to spend some time in-person as a commitment to their team.

The demand for hybrid work is fueling a demand for flexible spaces like coworking spaces. Some analysts predict that flexible workspace could account for 30% of the US’ commercial real estate market by 2030. 

A survey of business leaders across major industries in the USA and the UK reveals that 59% of companies who plan to increase their workspace in the next two years are choosing flexible over traditional offices, including 75% of fully-remote companies.

Coworking spaces allow for flexibility with short-term contracts and adaptable layouts. They also are designed to foster teamwork and community, bringing team members and companies together to collaborate in new ways. All this, while saving businesses the expense of kitting out their own spaces with furniture and equipment.

In conclusion, in recent years, we have seen a shift away from fully remote work in favour of hybrid work, as organisations recognise the irreplaceable value of in-person teamwork, cementing hybrid work as the best-of-both-worlds solution.

The Work Boulevard offers flexible options for businesses of any size. Affordable coworking passes for solopreneurs, virtual office for remote teams, meeting rooms for important gatherings and customisable private office spaces that evolve alongside you. Contact our friendly team to find the right office space for you. 

www.theworkboulevard.com