Companies shifting to permanent hybrid work environments are up against major challenges, including additional investment in new physical experiences for employees. This is complex and expensive. It involves bringing together systems, technology, and teams that have historically been siloed. But with every challenge comes an incredible opportunity to make work better.

We’ve been talking about it for more than a year now, but the last few months have only affirmed the fact: hybrid work is here to stay. The myriad research that’s been conducted so far proves that not only do employees want the flexibility of hybrid work, but also that hybrid work has a huge potential to drive better business results.

For much of the past two years, businesses have been looking ahead to an eventual return to the office – a return that has been frequently delayed and disrupted by the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with some employees resistant to returning, companies are looking for new options to entice employees back. It may not be a return to the office at all, but instead a movement towards an entirely new way of working together.

Today’s organizations are adapting office spaces and technology to meet the needs of a hybrid workforce. Microsoft is leading the way, bridging the gap between people working remotely and those in the office with the Microsoft Teams Meeting Room solution that allows everyone to be seen, heard, and fully participate from anywhere.

Government measures that were put in place to limit the spread of covid-19 forced employers to change the working conditions of employees. The most common measure was the requirement to work remotely whenever possible. With the relaxation of health measures, some employers have decided to reinstate the working conditions that previously existed. Others, on the other hand, have opted for the flex office to continue to offer employees the opportunity to work from home.

Roughly 47.4 million people quit their jobs and left the workforce last year in search of better ones, leading to what we now call the Great Resignation. Then, as the economy re-opened and companies intensified hiring efforts, millions of people switched careers, searching for better working conditions and higher salaries. Experts say the trend will continue as the Gen Z population reshapes the labor market.