Hybrid work is not just a perk, it’s a priority
Is your business getting it right?
Welcome to Ergo’s top 5 insights on Hybrid Work in Australia.
We asked Australian workers what they genuinely value about hybrid work—what they’re willing to trade off to keep it, including salary!
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Hybrid workers think they are more productive
A majority (65%) of people say they get more done working remotely than in the office—even more so for women and older workers.
Fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect around productivity leads to higher employee satisfaction and loyalty.
Trust the job will be done.
“When I work from home, I focus on my work and can concentrate more as there are no distractions from other colleagues.”
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Employees will trade off salary for flexibility
Compared to working full-time on-site, employees are willing to trade off up to 15% of their annual salary for the opportunity to work in a hybrid model.
Offering one to two days of remote flexibility delivers the most meaningful impact—striking a balance between organisational needs and employee preferences.
A little flexibility is worth a lot, and more flexibility has diminishing returns.
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Gender discrepancies revealed
Women are prepared to trade off a greater proportion of their salary than their male counterparts for flexible working. How much more? Nearly 5% more.
A woman on $110k p.a. would sacrifice up to $19k per year, to enjoy the benefits of hybrid work (four days flexible vs. full-time in the office). This compares to $14k for her male counterpart.
Organisations need to ensure they are not unconsciously perpetuating the gender pay gap in how they structure flexible work and reward employees.
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People are asking for more flexibility
The most popular “ideal” hybrid work arrangement is 2 days in-person and 3 days remote, yet most people are in-person 3 days per week.
There is a misalignment between how people are currently working and how they’d like to work, with Australian workers wanting even more flexibility.
78% agree that hybrid work is here to stay and we are not going back to the old model.
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Tuesday is the new Monday
Tuesday and Wednesday are the most preferred days to be in the office. Only 42% want to be on-site on Mondays… and just 21% on Fridays. Hybrid work extends the weekend feeling and helps avoid (or delay) the Sunday scaries.
“I like being at home on Monday as it helps set me up for the week better and I have less anxiety on a Sunday night. I like to get my in-office days 'out of the way' and spend the rest of the week at home…I can't think of anyone who wants to go into the office on a Friday!” (Millennial)
Get in touch for the full report—and discover how your organisation can harness hybrid work to drive performance and loyalty.