In 2024, the rise of hybrid working has cemented its place as the new norm, especially for communities like Witbank and surrounding areas - just a stone’s throw from Pretoria and Johannesburg. Flexible working blends remote work with time in a dedicated workspace, allowing individuals to balance professional commitments with personal obligations seamlessly.
The International Workplace Group (IWG), the driving force behind workspace brands such as Regus, HQ, and Signature, has conducted extensive research into the benefits of hybrid working. The findings speak for themselves: 82% of workers report feeling happier and more motivated, while 55% experience lower stress levels when adopting this approach.
Hybrid working gives employees more autonomy, allowing them to spend less time commuting and more time focused on family, personal growth, and well-being. It’s no wonder that 72% of employees now favour flexible work arrangements - even if it means a pay cut from what they’d earn in a traditional office setting.
Power of Hybrid Work
According to Mark Dixon, CEO and Founder of IWG, workers have realised the unnecessary time spent commuting when remote work is just as effective. "Businesses, too, are seeing that hybrid models result in happier, more engaged employees, along with significant cost savings," Dixon says.
The demand for high-quality, flexible workspaces is soaring, with organisations increasingly turning to hybrid work as a long-term solution. This blend of professional and personal life enables workers to reduce commuting times, focus on their tasks, and spend more quality time with loved ones - all while meeting deadlines more effectively.
Rise of Hybrid Hubs
As hybrid work gains popularity, companies are rethinking the traditional office setup. No longer are they opting for large, impersonal floors filled with identical desks. Instead, they are transitioning to smaller, more creative workspaces that encourage collaboration, social interaction, and innovation. These hybrid hubs are purpose-driven environments designed to inspire creativity and foster teamwork.
"It’s not enough to bring people into a building and expect them to collaborate or be creative," Dixon said. "Companies that are serious about fostering collaboration are investing in smaller, high-quality workspaces where interaction and idea exchange happen naturally."
These shared spaces also present opportunities for networking, as professionals from different industries come together in collaborative environments. Networking events within these spaces often lead to new partnerships, business opportunities, and career growth.
Path to Sustainability
Hybrid working isn’t just a win for businesses and employees—it’s also a step toward a more sustainable future. Research by IWG shows that 78% of hybrid workers believe that flexible work should be part of their company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies. By reducing commuting and downsizing office space, hybrid work models can significantly cut pollution and energy consumption.
According to IWG's studies, hybrid working could reduce carbon emissions in major cities like London by up to 70%. As Dixon points out, "The single biggest positive environmental change we can make is to allow people to work closer to home." With unused office space accounting for 40% of energy consumption, each empty desk represents a tonne of unnecessary CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to driving a car just under 10 000 kms.
A Lifeline for Families
For working parents, hybrid working is proving to be a game changer. By reducing long commutes, parents can spend more time at home, helping them strike a better balance between their professional and personal lives. Nearly 50% of parents surveyed by IWG reported that hybrid work significantly reduced the stress of finding childcare during school holidays.
Hybrid working is more than just a workplace trend - it’s a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. Companies can now foster growth and innovation while providing employees with the autonomy, flexibility, and sustainability they need to thrive. Regus’ flexible workspace solutions are perfectly aligned with this new way of working, making it easier for businesses and employees in Witbank, Pretoria, and Johannesburg to embrace this future of work.
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