Originally posted on Fortune.com. By Sheryl Estrada.
Yesterday, I shared data from Fortune and NewtonX’s new CFO poll that found many financial leaders prefer working remotely with flexible onsite workdays post-COVID.
That echoes what Accenture finds in a new research report based on a global survey of more than 9,000 workers across industries. About 83% of respondents said a hybrid model—sometimes remote, sometimes onsite—would be optimal. A quarter of respondents, in fields such as healthcare and retail, worked fully onsite throughout the coronavirus pandemic and are likely to remain onsite, despite their personal preferences, the report found.
Reimaging the onsite work experience is just as important as optimizing the work experience for hybrid or fully remote employees. But, at the end of the day, “it’s not about place, it’s about potential,” the report found.
Regardless of physical location, enhancing resources to make sure a workforce is healthy and productive, “will produce bottom-line benefits,” according to Accenture. The report notes that 63% of high-revenue growth companies use hybrid, “productivity anywhere,” workforce models; and 69% of “negative or no-growth” companies shun the concept of hybrid workforces and favor all onsite or all remote workforces.
Accenture’s model of “Net Better Off” suggests employers focus on “six fundamental human needs” for employees: financial security; emotional and mental wellbeing; a strong sense of belonging and inclusion; good physical health; purpose; and having the skill sets to advance in one’s career.
Although respondents of our CFO poll preferred hybrid work environments, they also recognized the challenges when it comes to socializing, team building, and fostering company culture. Almost half of the respondents (44%) said they’d like to organize in-person work periods by project or department.
Many Gen Z employees, who grew up during an era of selfies, texting, and virtual reality, actually want to experience onsite work in some form, Accenture’s report found. About 74% of Gen Z respondents prefer more opportunities to work face-to-face with colleagues, followed by Baby Boomers (68%), and Gen Xers (66%).
Eager for more learning? Join VP of Strategic Insights and Analytics, Patiwat Panurach, as he unpacks the learnings of 75 CFOs from the latest NewtonX Current research report, conducted in collaboration with Fortune.
Download the webinar recording today.
