Best-of 2024 hybrid work: 5 trends that marked the year

1. To telework or not to telework - that is the question

‍

Last January, we asked whether 2024 would be the year to return to the office. The answer: somewhat yes, but mostly no. We explain: this year, telecommuting has oscillated between stabilization on the French side - with 34% of workers practicing it occasionally or regularly (1) - and a complete about-face in the USA.

‍

In France, the hybrid model has been confirmed. Offices are being redesigned as social hubs, offering a multitude of services not available at home. The aim? To give meaning to being in the office and make employees want to come there. For a masterclass, head for the Maison Sanofi. When it comes to telecommuting, the watchword is flexibility, to meet employees' needs and expectations. Some companies, like Schneider Electric, offer coworking to their employees as an alternative to home-based teleworking.

‍

On the other side of the Atlantic, giants like Amazon have put an end to telecommuting, imposing a return to 100% face-to-face working. To justify this decision, they cite the need to strengthen corporate culture and improve collaboration. More implicitly, reinstating more managerial control also seems to underpin this decision.

‍

👉 To remember: The balance between remote autonomy and face-to-face collaboration is still under construction, but organizations are putting in the resources to find and sustain it. Telecommuting is constantly adapting to the expectations of employees and companies, and we're not done keeping up with its evolution!

‍

2. Olympic Games 2024: an organizational marathon for breathtaking success

‍

The summer of 2024 was marked by the Paris Olympic Games, a colossal event that transformed the daily lives of all Ile-de-France residents... and thrilled all French people!

‍

To cope with the massive influx of visitors and anticipate transport disruptions, companies had prepared the ground and massively asked their employees to telework whenever possible. For some, this was an opportunity to try out workation, local coworking or to go back to their roots - aka the family home.

‍

And against all expectations, the public transport system, thought to be THE black spot of the event, turned out to be particularly well run... A feat almost comparable to that of Léon Marchand, isn't it? This organization made daily life easier for employees, and demonstrated that anticipation and geographical flexibility, coupled with well-controlled transport logistics, enable productivity to be maintained while limiting travel-related constraints.

‍

The Olympic Games were also a great moment of togetherness. In fact, we've learned 4 lessons from top-level sport that can be applied to corporate team building.

‍

👉 To remember: The Paris 2024 Olympics were a full-scale experimental laboratory for hybrid working. And an opportunity to experience emotional moments as a team - yes, afterwork watch parties were in demand! The event boosted the attractiveness of coworking facilities, while proving that preparation and coordination can turn a logistical challenge into a collective success.

‍

3. Workation: the rest and productivity combo so popular with employees

‍

Among the trends that consolidated in 2024, workation particularly stood out. Working from a vacation location has become a common and much appreciated practice for workers in some companies.

‍

Coworking spaces by the sea and at the foot of the ski slopes have become increasingly popular. However, this new way of working remains a logistical challenge to ensure good internet connection, compatible time zones between collaborators and collective efficiency.

‍

But be warned: by 2024, the clichés of the distracted employee on a deckchair will be a thing of the past: companies have structured this practice with clear policies and adapted tools to ensure it runs smoothly.

‍

👉 To remember: Workation shows that productivity, rest and inspiration can coexist, provided a clear and appropriate framework is established. It's also a strategic lever for attracting and retaining talent, and one that companies are ready to introduce if it's worth the effort.

‍

4. Work/life balance: a tightrope act

‍

Hyperconnection, mental fatigue and growing employee expectations in terms of well-being have put the question of work-life balance back at the top of the agenda. 37% of French workers still use professional tools outside their working hours(2). Hybrid working is blurring the boundary between professional and personal life, and it is becoming urgent to redefine clear benchmarks to safeguard employees' health.

‍

A growing number of initiatives are being taken to meet these challenges: the right to disconnect enshrined in employment contracts, flexible working hours and mental well-being awareness programs... These measures are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for retaining talent and keeping teams motivated and productive.

‍

👉 To remember: By placing employees' mental and physical health at the heart of their priorities, companies are investing in a more humane and sustainable future. Moreover, the most visionary organizations understand that this balance is not only a guarantee of individual well-being, but also a strategic lever for performance. An issue to be looked at more closely in 2025.

‍

5. Reconciling the individual and the collective: difficult, but not impossible

‍

While the personalization of career paths is booming - with rhythms, missions and workplaces adapted to each individual - this trend raises a major challenge: how can we preserve the collective?

‍

Inspired by the Olympic Games, some companies have redoubled their efforts to strengthen team cohesion. They have relied on 3 essential levers: a shared vision, regular collaborative rituals and fluid communication that gives meaning to the collective effort.

‍

In concrete terms, this involves practices such as creating a team charter, organizing face-to-face moments of reconnection, or integrating digital tools to promote transparency and exchange. These actions help to recreate links without sacrificing individual flexibility.

‍

👉 To remember: Reconciling individual flexibility and collective dynamics remains a central challenge for organizations at this stage, even though many companies are relentlessly testing new ways of federating. This will undoubtedly be a central issue in 2025.

‍

Clap de fin

‍

Once again, 2024 has shown us that hybrid working is not simply a matter of alternating between face-to-face and remote work - that would be too simple! It's a complex ecosystem, where flexibility, innovation and a collective spirit need to be balanced to serve companies' ambitions.

‍

And what about tomorrow? If 2024 was the year of adaptation, perhaps 2025 will be the year of innovation. One thing's for sure: hybrid work will continue to reinvent itself, driven by the challenges of an ever-changing world. In any case, we'll be there to document it all!

‍

‍

<hr>

‍

<font size="-1">Nos sources</font>

‍

<font size="-1">(1) https://fr.statista.com/statistiques/1147656/taux-teletravail-france/#:~:text=Au%2031%20janvier%202024%2C%2036,r%C3%A9guli%C3%A8rement%20ou%20occasionnellement%20en%20t%C3%A9l%C3%A9travail </font>

‍

<font size="-1">(2) https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/transformation-numerique-et-vie-au-travail-rapport-de-bruno-mettling </font>