This morning I joined CBRE's webinar presenting their Framework for the Ultimate Hybrid Working Model. The recording is available on-line and is well worth listening to, but if you don't have time, here are my key takeaways:

Strategies under review

Return to the office has not played out as many businesses expected and as a result their strategies are now under review. This is driven in no small part by the challenges of trying to make hybrid work.

Blended remains dominant

The preference for a blended experience, rather than office-first or virtual-first, remains dominant, with 81% of those surveyed choosing this. However, this trend is down, with both office-first and virtual-first sentiment gaining ground. The current preference is for 2.8 days per week away from the office.

A good "in-office" experience

To make the office experience relevant, it must be seamless. The technology must be better than in peoples' homes and the office must provide the spaces that workers need. They won't come in if their home working environment is better than their office experience. 

Pull, don't push

To simply mandate a return to the office has been shown to be counterproductive. Companies must give their employees a reason 'why'. The top areas of investment by companies have been on-site events and programmes, remote collaboration tools, and on-site food and beverages.

PHD

Luckily you don't need one: the key factors are Physical, Human and Digital. The physical real estate needs to work and be able to adapt to the needs of the work force. The experience needs to make people want to be there and return. Technology needs to remove barriers and make the office a better place to work.

If you want a deeper dive, CBRE have also provided a useful pdf setting out their framework for designing a hybrid working model that works for your business.