A new report from Eden provides an overview of the needs and wants of employees in hybrid and remote working technology.
According to software company Eden’s recent Where technology works report found that tech workers preferred to be in the office. In addition, the report indicates that older workers completely prefer work settings remotely unlike the hybrid model preferred by their younger counterparts.
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Younger employees want to go to the office, older people want WFH
Eden found in the survey of 1000 tech workers that those who fall into the Generation Z age bracket preferred to work full-time in the office to make work-based connections with colleagues and help them track their career growth quickly. . On the other hand, 42% of baby boomers chose full-time remote working as their ideal work setup.
According to the company, the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged so early in the careers of Gen Zers leaving college hampered the younger demographic’s opportunities when it comes to new life experiences and career goals. Because of this, personal contacts after returning to work after the pandemic were desired by those who were still looking for a permanent place in their livelihood. For older workers, the fact that they were further along in their careers and those connections were missed by the younger generation in the tech industry resulted in a preference for working from home full-time.
For those who fall into the categories of Gen Xers and Millennials, a hybrid work style is preferred. According to the survey, 50% of Millennials and 47% of Gen Xers favor this option, as they have additional responsibilities at home, such as children, while continuing to try to build their own personal careers. Flexibility is essential for these workers to thrive in the new era of work.
Tech workers need the flexibility offered by hybrid setups
While each age group has its own preferences for how work is completed, most agree that it is imperative for businesses to have options about where to work. As seen in previous reports, many employees are willing to quit if a role forces them to work full-time in the office without the capacity to work outside a designated building. Almost all (95%) of the respondents indicated that it is very or somewhat important for organizations to be able to work remotely. Going deeper, 63% of tech workers said not being able to work remotely would be a deal breaker.
Tech workers currently working remotely also say companies need to sweeten the pot considerably to return them to the office full-time. Of those who responded, 64% said it would require an increase of 20% or more to have them back in office Monday through Friday, and 6% said no amount of money would be worth doing so . The reason for this is the work-life balance that employees need, according to Eden, because it allows for responsibilities at home that are out of the office.
The three greatest benefits of hybrid working according to the Eden were:
- Flexibility for responsibilities at home (37%)
- Flexibility for childcare and/or other family care (28%)
- The commute takes too much time (22%)
It is important that companies in the tech industry listen to their employees and respond to their needs in the wake of the great layoff and the need for laborers in the trade. By providing their workforce with the flexibility needed to maintain a healthy work-life balance, organizations can expand their workforce while retaining the talent they already have in a competitive area of business.
