Microsoft offers exclusive research and expert insights into a year of work like no other, revealing urgent trends for leaders as the next phase of work unfolds.
The year 2020 changed work forever, impacting every person and organisation across the globe. Now, with widespread vaccinations in sight, we’re on the brink of a disruption as great as last year’s sudden shift to remote work: the move to hybrid — a blended model where some employees return to the workplace and others continue to work from home. We know two things for sure: flexible work is here to stay, and the talent landscape has fundamentally shifted.
Remote work has created new job opportunities for some, offered more family time, and provided options for whether or when to commute. But there are new challenges ahead. Teams have become more siloed and digital exhaustion is a real and unsustainable threat. The opportunity now is to build on what we’ve learned over the past 12 months to create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
With over 40 percent of the global workforce considering leaving their employer this year, a thoughtful approach to hybrid work is critical for leaders looking to attract and retain diverse talent. To help organisations through the transition, the 2021 Work Trend Index outlines findings from a study of more than 30,000 people in 31 countries and analyses of trillions of productivity and labour signals across Microsoft 365 and LinkedIn. It also includes perspectives from experts who have studied collaboration, social capital, and space design at work for decades.