Hybrid is here to stay

4 Jan 2025 | The Straits Times

FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS CRITICAL TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT. In 2025, the workplace will continue to evolve to find a balance between pre-pandemic norms and hybrid work arrangements. Experts agree that while some companies are recalling employees to the office, hybrid work is here to stay. Assistant Professor Ong Wei Jee from NUS Business School notes that the decline in hybrid work reflects a global trend toward a "new normal." Meanwhile, Associate Professor Trevor Yu from NTU’s Nanyang Business School highlights that companies are not eliminating remote work but striving to find the right balance for different roles and teams.

Dr Issac Lim, Founder of Anthro Insights, provided insights into the enduring appeal and challenges of hybrid work. He emphasised that the widespread success of hybrid models has “permanently altered” workers’ expectations.

“While job seekers in Singapore are generally practical and understand when on-site presence is necessary, they’re also perceptive. When companies mandate full-time office attendance for roles that could be performed remotely, it reveals much about their organisational culture and management philosophy,” said Dr Lim.

He further highlighted the risks companies face if they resist this evolution. Organisations that maintain rigid workplace policies may limit their talent pool and lose their most capable employees to competitors who embrace flexibility. Additionally, such inflexibility could hinder the productivity gains that hybrid work has proven to deliver. Dr Lim also pointed to the influence of government-backed initiatives like the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA), which aim to empower employees and improve talent retention. Not forgetting, the public service – the nation’s largest employer with about 153,000 officers – advocates for and practises FWA.

“Companies that resist this evolution risk two significant disadvantages. They’ll restrict themselves to a smaller talent pool and potentially sacrifice productivity gains. Moreover, those maintaining rigid workplace policies may find themselves losing their most capable employees to competitors who embrace more flexible arrangements,” noted Dr Lim.

At Anthro Insights, we believe the future of work lies in adaptive, employee-centred models that balance organisational goals with workforce well-being. Hybrid work is not just a trend but a sustainable, competitive advantage for businesses toward more inclusive and forward-thinking workplace practices.