In its 2023 study on hybrid work conducted by YouGov, Comet confirms a post-Covid trend: that the office is once again THE place for professional socialization. Indeed, 43% of French employees surveyed say they go there first and foremost to get together with their colleagues. 62% of the French people questioned now approve of the usefulness of meetings, whereas in July 2022, 86% of them were confronted with useless meetings. However, the study also highlights the deleterious effects of teleworking: 39% of French people, 37% of Belgians and as many as 50% of Spaniards say that working alone and remotely can be detrimental to their personal and professional development. This study thus provides an interesting roadmap for HR departments and company managers in terms of improvements to be made to the current organization of work.
Teleworking not 100% convincing for employees
A diverse and contrasting professional reality emerges from this study: when asked about their preference for telecommuting, 33% of French working people surveyed were in favor of telecommuting... while 31% preferred to avoid it! The adoption of hybrid working is therefore far from fluid in France and Europe, and Comet's 2023 study points to a number of key areas for improvement for companies wishing to retain their employees. Among the negative effects of telecommuting, 24% of French people point to a lack of information between colleagues, and 16% note an increase in their workload, proof that improvements in the organization of hybrid work are still necessary.
Meetings regain their usefulness, provided they are rethought
One positive point to emerge from this study is that French-style réunionite seems to be on the wane, and the professionalization of the organization of these sharing times could be at the root of this change, coupled with a probable slimming down of the time dedicated to meetings. Whereas in July 2022 (Wave 1 of the study), 86% of respondents said they were confronted with meetings that weren't always useful, the reality in 2023 seems less catastrophic. A majority of French (62%), Spanish (almost 80%) and Belgians (63%) now agree that meetings are useful in a professional context. But that doesn't mean they appreciate them as they exist today: as in July 2022 (73%), nearly 71% of all nationalities still feel that their company should invest in improving this time-consuming and poorly invested activity.
Theoffice must be rethought for quality of life at work
Another finding of the study is the expectations employees have of this evolving space. While 38% of French employees surveyed say they go there to benefit from more interaction with their colleagues, 34% also say they have more facilities there than at home. This proves that professional facilities, from offices to meeting rooms and informal or catering areas, remain important ingredients in the experience. The difficulties encountered by the office real estate sector lend credence to this diagnosis: workspaces crystallize many expectations and therefore deserve to be adapted and rethought to regain their appeal. They will thus reconnect with a primary professional need: to collaborate in optimal conditions.
The opportunity to get together with colleagues and to maintain or create links are the three main reasons why the French, Belgians and Spaniards go to work. In a context where more and more companies are turning to a hybrid organization, this finding is worth considering: less frequented, the office remains the primary breeding ground for social and collaborative links.
Methodological note: The survey was carried out on 1005 people representative of the active French national population aged 18 and over. The survey was conducted online, on the YouGov France proprietary panel from July 04 to 10, 2023.
