In the Philippines, a recent survey by technology company Cisco reveals that employees are open to reporting for work a few times a week emphasizing collaboration as a key factor. However, 37% of respondents feel that their current office infrastructure does not fully support their optimal work performance.
“In the era of hybrid work, employers need to reimagine their workspaces as a hub for collaboration and connect people in new ways with the right connectivity, collaboration tools, and culture,” said Zaza Soriano-Nicart, managing director, Cisco Philippines.
Post-pandemic, hybrid work has become the norm as businesses have proven the feasibility of remote operations. Despite the common perception that employees are reluctant to return to the office, the survey indicates a different trend. A significant 80% of Filipino employees responded positively to their organization’s mandate to return to the office, and 89% expressed a desire to be back at least a few times per week.
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Titled “From Mandate to Magnet: The Race to Reimagine Workplaces and Workspaces for a Hybrid Future,” the study highlights that 93% of companies in the Philippines have mandated a full or partial return to the office, citing productivity, team communication, and leadership pressure as key drivers.
Transforming offices
Office layout is crucial for 73% of employees who value a more collaborative environment. The survey found that 78% of employers still allocate at least half of their offices to individual workspaces.
The study points out that current workspaces are not fully prepared for this evolving work style. Employees believe that individual workstations (47%), large (55%), and small (69%) meeting rooms are ineffective at enhancing productivity in the office, or only do so moderately at best.
“While employers are making progress in deploying collaborative technologies to support hybrid work, significant work remains to simplify the experience to better enable employees to fully utilize these tools and technologies,” said Nicart.
The survey also reveals ongoing efforts by organizations to transform their office spaces. Eight out of 10 employers have already made changes post-pandemic, and 89% plan to continue doing so in the next two years. Key drivers for this transformation include adapting to technological advancements (63%), meeting changing employee expectations for workspaces (54%), and better enabling hybrid work (42%).
“Apart from providing access to technologies like smart meeting assistants, for example, employers need to make sure that their people are given appropriate training and support so they can be proficient in these technologies,” Nicart said.