Hybrid Work Isn't Dead. It's Being Optimized

"For office employees, the transition from the traditional, Monday through Friday "9-to-5 work model" office to a more flexible, technology-forward workplace is nearly complete. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional workplace relied heavily on the physical environment and tools that employees had access to. Hybrid or remote work options were rare, coveted benefits, usually limited to the tech sector. Otherwise, people came into an office daily to do their work surrounded by other colleagues."

"For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), the prominence of hybrid work has remained stable, with only minor shifts over the last three years. According to Vistage CEO Confidence Index data, 43% of all SMBs offer hybrid work as of Q3 2025, a decrease of seven percentage points since Q2 2022. Meanwhile, the percentage of workplaces that are fully remote has increased slightly from 8% in Q3 2025 compared to 7% in Q2 2022."

"This 7% rise in fully onsite work, up to 45% in Q3 2025 from 38% in Q2 2022. is a far cry from recent rhetoric around return to office. Hybrid work is far from dead; for many, it's the new normal. The once-deafening drumbeat of RTO has lost momentum since early 2025, as CEOs shift their focus to pressing matters such as economic uncertainty, policy confusion, and the three Is of inflation, interest rates, and immigration."

The traditional Monday-through-Friday 9-to-5 office model has largely given way to a flexible, technology-forward workplace. Before COVID-19, work relied on physical environments and tools, and hybrid or remote options were rare and mainly confined to tech. Technology and AI now enable work from anywhere, making flexibility a strategic lever to maximize productivity, streamline overhead, and enhance employee retention. For SMBs, hybrid work remains common: 43% offered hybrid as of Q3 2025 (down seven points since Q2 2022), fully remote workplaces rose slightly to 8%, and fully onsite workplaces increased to 45% from 38%. The push for Return-to-Office lost momentum since early 2025 as CEOs focus on economic uncertainty, policy confusion, and the three Is of inflation, interest rates, and immigration.

Read at Inc