The debate about whether to return to the physical office or not has been a hot conversation in 2023. Many employers think that fully being in-person will create more productive employees. On the other hand, employees think that a hybrid work model is the sweet spot.

Industry leaders share their thoughts, comments, and concerns about RTO mandates and how it will affect their 2024.

The hybrid model

Despite a number of companies pushing for RTO, recent research shows that workers have a strong preference for a hybrid model – with two or three days of remote work per week being the most popular choice (37%). In 2024, we can expect leaders to more readily accept that hybrid work is here to stay. EY's Belonging Barometer 3.0 shines a light on the benefits of hybrid work, finding that more than half of workers (64%) reported that it led to a greater sense of belonging, as they appreciate the organization becoming more flexible and feel encouraged to share opinions on needs and preferences. Moreover, in the coming year we're likely to see further advancements in AI and technology, which will make hybrid working even more seamless – 44% of employees believe generative AI will have a positive effect on flexible working, according to findings from EY's 2023 Work Reimagined Survey.