Office, hybrid or home? New report explores employee attitudes in Mac Park

Whether it’s working from the office, working from home or something in between Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District’s new report reveals the hybrid work preferences of local employees.

Connect surveyed hundreds of people to test their attitude to remote working, what they want to come back to the office for, and how they’ll get here when they do.

The number of young people who don’t want to work remotely at all has increased significantly: up 13 points among those aged 18-24. Meanwhile, the number of people who want to work remotely all of the time has also increased, most significantly for those aged 18-24 (+13 points), and 55 years and over (+9 points).

Speaking at the report launch event exclusively for Connect members, General Manager Mark Ames unpacked the data:

“This year the data reveals a trend in the extremities. Older employees - who perhaps have more room, older children and a better set up at home - want to work remotely more. Younger employees - who use the office as a designated work space, as well as to learn from others and to socialise - want to come back more.”

“Looking ahead significant questions remain about how to build a successful hybrid working culture, how to safely define the role of the workplace, and how to sustain an economic recovery in Macquarie Park for everyone’s benefit.”

COVID-19 has changed how employees view the workplace. Today, more than 18 months on from the start of the pandemic, 60% of the global workforce is still working remotely in some form.

In addition to this new report and data insights, Connect has provided its members with access to a practical toolkit on building a successful hybrid working culture created by flexible working experts Juggle Strategies.

“Going forward it’s going to be less about policy and more about behaviour. The employees we surveyed told us it is their immediate colleagues and managers who they will look to for leadership signals on how to embed the new normal,” said Mark.

Want to know more? Download our report - “Finding the path forward 2021” – for further insights into the Macquarie Park journey.