5 Reasons Hybrid Work Enables Employees To Live Healthier Lifestyle, New Study Shows

Hybrid Work The workplace has been marked by upheaval in recent years, and the volatility has caused many U.S. employees to suffer from “change fatigue” caused by frequent shifts in priorities, rules, and personnel. According to a new survey, remote workers’ jobs may be at risk. As these types of company threats and demands persist, the occurrences of stress, anxiety, and burnout rise dramatically. Even after taking time off, a national survey discovered that instead of feeling refreshed, 41% of Americans experience post-time-off burnout.

As we excitedly await the advent of spring, one of the most effective treatments for job stress and burnout prevention is continued physical and mental health. According to Mordor Intelligence, people generally choose work environments that are more conducive to active personal lives, following an era of long commutes to offices that were not close to gyms or fitness classes. The fitness industry has rebounded after plunging at the start of the pandemic, thanks to “rising health awareness” and popular lifestyle fads like yoga, as well as developing initiatives such as well-being-appointed office spaces like Life Time, SoHo House, and Equinox.

New research confirms that the flexibility of hybrid work and employee well-being are linked. According to the International Workplace Group, the benefits of hybrid work enable individuals to better manage their health. Respondents highlighted five reasons why the flexibility of hybrid work promotes a healthy lifestyle:

1- 83% of hybrid workers believe that the flexibility of their employment helps them to prioritize their health and well-being.

2- 85% of hybrid workers believe that working out regularly improves their productivity and focus at work.

3- 90% of hybrid workers report that the hybrid model’s flexibility has helped them exercise more frequently, and 80% feel empowered to live a healthier lifestyle.

4- Hybrid work saves employees an average of 53 minutes each day, with the majority (90%) putting that time to good use by working from home or exercising nearby.

5- 80% said hybrid employment assists them in living a better lifestyle, and nearly as many (79%) said the flexibility of hybrid work helps them achieve their fitness goals.

“This latest research further validates the vast benefits of hybrid working,” says Mark Dixon, the founder and CEO of IWG. “Countless studies have shown that it has the power to make employees happier and healthier, improve productivity as well as create important cost savings,” Dixon said. “Many firms continue to prioritize their employees’ health and well-being. Empowering employees to improve their quality of life by reducing daily trips and using the extra time for increased physical exercise to prioritize fitness is a win-win situation.

15-Minute Commutes Promote Fitness!

Dixon told me via email that the “15-minute city living” notion, which assumes that any place you need to go is within a 15-minute walk or bike ride of your home, is gaining popularity. “Organizations can adapt the ’15-minute city’ concept by opening local offices or providing access to local coworking centers that allow their teams to have shorter commutes, giving time back to their employees to focus on their wellness and spend less time driving or on mass transit.” According to an ITW study, hybrid workers consider commute times while looking for new job options.

72% of hybrid workers polled say they hunt for new employment based on their ability to exercise regularly.

61% of hybrid workers believe their commute hinders their capacity to exercise. Approximately 69% of that group stated a 15-minute commute would improve their ability to work out or exercise regularly.

59% of hybrid workers say that having to travel to a city center office or place of work with a long daily commute would have a detrimental influence on their physical fitness or exercise regimen, and they would not consider a new position if it did not allow them to prioritize their fitness.

46% of urban hybrid workers would bike to work if given the option of a 15-minute ride.

21% of hybrid workers aged 18-24 would consider jogging to work if given the option of a 15-minute commute.
If they could walk to work in 15 minutes, 45% of urban hybrid workers would consider doing so.

How Organizations Benefit from Hybrid Work

Dixon explained that by putting offices and co-working spaces closer to where employees live and want to be, employers can assist their teams overcome common issues like long, stressful commutes and limited time to exercise. He went on to add, “Employers can also benefit from the ability to recruit from a diverse talent pool, while also reducing their costs by downsizing expensive office space in city centers, by instead providing their teams with access to co-working and flexible workspace locations in the heart of local communities, closer to where employees live.”

Dixon suggests that businesses begin by carefully considering how they are allowing their workers to reap the benefits of flexibility while simultaneously promoting cooperation and engagement. He believes that one of the most effective ways firms may boost flexibility is to provide access to local offices for in-person teamwork and collaboration. “Our data reveals that employees save an average of 53 minutes per day commuting when they work from or near home, and virtually all of them use that time to exercise. Employees can be inspired to achieve their fitness objectives and live better lifestyles by shortening their travel times.”

Dixon believes that hybrid work is here to stay, and organizations that embrace it to the fullest will be best positioned for the future. He believes that by putting offices and co-working spaces closer to where employees live and want to be, employers can assist their teams overcome common issues such as long, stressful commutes and limited time to exercise. “As workers continue to prioritize flexibility and their health when considering new job opportunities, hybrid work will continue to play an important role in talent retention and attraction,” he said in his report. “Businesses that recognize and accommodate the needs of their people will win out on, and keep, key talent for the longer-term.“