Gen Z prefers hybrid over fully remote, surpassing elders
WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES — A new Gallup survey reveals that Gen Z workers are more inclined towards hybrid work arrangements than their older counterparts.
The data was collected in Q1 2024 and showed that 65% of remote-capable Gen Z employees prefer a hybrid model, higher than millennials (60%), Gen X (58%), and baby boomers (56%).
“They [Gen Z] need time onsite to learn how to work effectively within their organization, build relationships, and feel like a part of the organization’s culture,” Ben Wigert, Gallup’s director of research and strategy for workplace management, explained.
“Younger workers value opportunities to learn and grow from those around them, and find it easier to navigate their career ropes in-person.”
Generational differences in work preferences
While around one-third of older generations favored fully remote work, only 29% of Gen Z respondents shared this preference.
On-site work was the least popular option across all age groups, though baby boomers were most likely to prefer it at 10%.
Despite generational differences, Gallup’s data indicates most remote-capable workers overwhelmingly prefer hybrid over fully office-based or remote models.
In fact, a Morning Consult survey revealed that for the first time since the pandemic, 29% of Americans now prefer hybrid over fully remote work arrangements, up from 25% the previous year.
Experts weigh in on hybrid and remote work
To make hybrid work successful, Wigert recommends considering individual preferences, allowing team autonomy in setting schedules, providing a flexible framework with clear expectations, and tailoring arrangements based on the type of work involved.
He suggests Gen Z’s hybrid inclination “indicates a little more time in-person likely benefits them as they’re getting started in their careers.”
New York University professor Suzy Welch previously cautioned that remote work could limit Gen Z’s career growth, making it harder to reach the C-suite.
