Flex Index

📊 Our Q3 2024 Flex Report is live! https://bit.ly/4dhxxz3 As economic clouds gather, how is workplace flexibility in the U.S. holding up? While some believed a downturn would force a return to full-time office work, the data tells a more nuanced story. With 67% of U.S. firms still offering work location flexibility, there's a slight dip from last quarter, but the overall trend leans towards Structured #HybridWork models. Are we witnessing the beginning of a shift, or is flexibility here to stay? Our latest #FlexReport takes a close look at how U.S. work location flexibility is evolving amidst economic shifts. We analyze key trends across industries, company sizes, and regions, comparing them to previous quarters to understand where flexible work is headed next. Check out the sneak peek below ⬇️

Will #remote workers determine the outcome of today's #election? In this opinion piece for The Hill, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky explores how the recent surge in remote work and the resulting geographic mobility of workers could impact the outcome of today's U.S. presidential election. Research shows the shift of workers from traditionally Democratic urban centers to more affordable suburban and rural areas - many of which lean Republican or are swing states - could potentially influence the voting dynamics in key battleground regions. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hw006N

Carly Zakin, Co-Founder of theSkimm, has a clear message for companies that claim to support women's advancement without providing true #flexibility: you can't have it both ways. In our throwback #FlexPerspectives episode, we sat down with theSkimm co-founders Carly and Danielle Weisberg discuss the growing demand for flexible work arrangements and actionable ways organizations can better support women. Listen to the full episode ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Yw1PrP

Major companies like Starbucks, Dell Technologies, and Amazon have been getting more serious about enforcing their #RTO policies. Some companies are using a carrot approach, while others are leaning more toward the stick. Performance evaluations, team #collaboration, and company #culture are often cited as key reasons for bringing employees back to the office.

Minimum Days/Week continues to be the most popular model for companies choosing a Structured #Hybrid approach to the office. 74% of Structured Hybrid companies in the US have a Minimum Days/Week model. More broadly, minimums are a popular approach. 85% of Structured Hybrid companies have some type of minimum (either measured in days or percentage of time).

Return to office or return your badge 👀 Starbucks is brewing up controversy with its latest workplace announcement: starting January 2025, corporate employees who don't meet the 3-day office requirement could face termination. Starbucks is the latest company to shift from carrots to sticks in the ongoing return-to-office battle that has been playing out at workplaces. Amazon just mandated 5 days in-office, Dell Technologies tied promotions to office presence, and Wall Street banks have warned that #WFH could impact career growth.

"It's not just about how often we get together but why." In this throwback #FlexPerspectives episode, Brian Elliott, Co-Founder of #FutureForum and author of "How The Future Works," joined us to discuss 👇 • Why top-down #RTO mandates don't work and how team-level agreements are a more impactful approach • How to transition from managing based on inputs to outcomes • Tips for reducing meetings and working asynchronously. Check out the full episode 👉 https://shorturl.at/akovu

Another week, another #RTO news headline. Business Insider just dropped a comprehensive list of major companies requiring employees back in the office and it's quite a roster: Amazon, BlackRock, Meta, Apple, and Zoom (just to name a few). The most interesting part is that despite mounting evidence about #remotework productivity, executives continue to cite "collaboration" and "culture" as reasons to commute again.

The future of work isn't about 'us vs. them' - it's about creating something better together. No one knows that better than Ryan Anderson, who joined us on #FlexPerspectives to discuss how moving past the binary debate of office vs. remote work opens up exciting possibilities for truly flexible, human-centered workspaces. Catch the full episode with Ryan 👉 https://bit.ly/3NB8AU8

Under new CEO Bill Brown's leadership, 3M is rolling back its "Work Your Way" #flexibility program. Starting next month, directors+ within 50 miles of HQ are expected (not required) to be in-office Tuesday-Thursday. 3M joins a growing trend of companies like Amazon and Dell Technologies tightening their remote work policies. More on 3M's latest RTO changes 👉 https://bit.ly/4eQHSTC