Productivity, technology and sustainability will dominate workplace trends in 2023: IWG

According to IWG, international workspace company, the future of work will soon see more professional employees embracing and adopting a hybrid working model. In its latest report, 2023 Trends Forecast for the Future of Work, IWG claims that within the next five years, the proportion of professional employees working out of a single location may become the minority for the first time.

Mark Dixon, the CEO of IWG, believes that this shift towards a hybrid working model is a more sustainable approach to working and will boost corporate productivity. “It is clear that yet more change is on the way, as our working lives are Tengah EC impacted by innovations and new thinking in areas such as sustainability, technology, recruitment and productivity,” he says.

One future trend that IWG has identified is the move away from measuring work hours per week, towards a focus on outcomes. Productivity, they believe, is a business priority and the four-day work week could be the new norm. It appears that employees who strive for a healthy work-life balance are receptive to this suggestion. Gen Z workers, in particular, according to an IWG survey, expect the four-day work week to become the norm in the upcoming years.

Technology will have a large influence on these workplace trends. AI and virtual reality (VR) are being adopted by many companies across the world, allowing employees to work from anywhere in the world. IWG’s 3,500 workspace locations in 120 countries, act as hubs for these itinerant workers to connect with.

Furthermore, companies are also showing greater commitment towards sustainability when it comes to their corporate agenda. Cushman & Wakefield research has shown that LEED-certified Class-A office space has a 25.3% premium psf compared to non-certified buildings. Meanwhile, IWG’s report has identified a ‘Great Lease Resignation’ whereby corporate tenants are favouring more flexible arrangements over traditional long-term office leases.

When it comes to anchoring the success of hybrid work, a corporate mindset shift is needed. Intentional team days and meetings that have clear purpose must be planned out, explains Dixon. “If people are going to make the effort to come together in the office, it’s essential their time there is spent productively.”

The future of work, according to IWG, is one that enrich the workplace experience of employees, utilise technology to boost efficiency and productivity, and sustain corporate sustainability.