According to a study by network equipment provider Cisco, German employees are positive about at least a partial return to the office, but often see their office environment as not yet being well prepared for hybrid working. On average, only just under half of company meeting rooms have video and audio functions. Many of those surveyed also complain about the quality. Additionally, there seems to be a general feeling that the collaboration tools currently available don't work seamlessly together. Around nine out of ten employees (90 percent) and employers (88 percent) highlighted this in the survey.
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Both employers and employees see the greatest difficulties in terms of workplace equipment as internet connectivity, followed by difficulties in collaborating with other team members and inadequate equipment or tools. Overall, 38 percent of German employers surveyed believed that their company offers their employees a well-managed hybrid work environment. 32 percent of the companies surveyed see their office environment as “very well prepared”.
First the meeting rooms, then the workstations
Employers cited improving collaboration and meeting spaces as a top priority for follow-up action. In addition to technological aspects, they also mentioned topics such as improved seating and arrangement. According to the results, employers want to use more whiteboards or interactive screens (43 percent) in meeting rooms with options for hybrid meetings (43 percent). Only afterwards (42 percent) do they want to make changes to the employees' workplaces – where the priority, unsurprisingly, was on the equipment of the individual workplace.
Overall, according to the survey, 84 percent of companies in Germany have requested a full or partial return to the office, compared to only 73 percent across Europe. The trend seems to be towards a hybrid approach. Around three quarters of German employees are positive about at least a partial return to the office. Many of them even think a full return to the office is good (44 percent, Europe: 41 percent), followed by the desire for hybrid work (26 percent, Europe: 31 percent).
The hybrid worker is coming
Of the employers surveyed by Cisco across Europe, 63 percent believe that hybrid working has a positive effect on the well-being and 59 percent have a positive effect on the productivity of their employees. 59 percent also indicate possible cost savings for their companies. 90 percent of German employers surveyed predict that the average employee will be a hybrid employee in two years.
Cisco identified team communication and workplace culture, as well as optimized productivity, as the most important reasons for returning to the office. But the pressure from managers, as well as normative aspects and industry trends also play a decisive role. Nevertheless, 72 percent of those surveyed from the Federal Republic received the return positively.
According to its own information, Cisco conducted a survey of 3,500 full-time employees and 1,050 employers from seven countries for the study called “EU Hybrid Work”. The respondents come from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Great Britain. Different company sizes from different divisions were taken into account.
(sigh)