From the office to home and back again – in the five years since the start of the pandemic, companies have explored the options between in-person and remote work, trying to find the ideal balance for maximum employee happiness and productivity.
A growing number of US employers require workers to return to the office five days a week, and a 2025 executive order now mandates that all federal employees do the same. Despite rising in-office requirements, most hybrid workers prefer a flexible arrangement over fully remote or in-person schedules.
The flexibility of remote and hybrid work scheduling has permanently changed the work landscape, but the new normal varies widely across different demographics and industries. Employees' ability and preference to work in person or on-site depends greatly on whether they’re given the support and technology — like unified communications tools — to work seamlessly in any location.
Remote, Hybrid, or Return to Office: Workplace Flexibility Trends in 2025
The balance of workers at home and in the office continues to shift. In early 2025, 61% of full-time employees were completely on-site, while 13% were fully remote, and 26% worked a hybrid arrangement. However, as federal and corporate return-to-office (RTO) mandates become more prevalent, more workers will likely be in person by the end of the year.
Specific industries and positions are more naturally suited to remote work. Knowledge- or computer-based jobs can be done anywhere, while frontline and industrial workers must be on-site. Remote-friendly industries in 2024 are:
- Finance and insurance
- Information and technology
- Professional and business services
- Real estate
- Wholesale trade
Due to the nature of these positions, remote and hybrid employees tend to have higher levels of education than workers whose jobs require them to be on-site. They also tend to be older and more established than their peers, drawing higher-than-average salaries.
Older workers, aged 50-64, are more likely to work entirely on-site than their younger peers. Millennials and Gen Z have the most flexible schedules, with about a third of each generation working in a hybrid arrangement as of February 2025.
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Geographic Trends for Hybrid and Remote Work
While some jobs can be carried out anywhere, certain areas offer more support to digital nomads than others. Many countries provide remote work visa programs, while others have passed legislation to protect workers’ rights, including regulations for flexible working conditions in the UK.
In general, employers in the US are enforcing stricter return-to-office policies than their European counterparts, so companies must adjust their mandates by region. For example, Amazon employees in the US must work in person five days a week, while Dutch Amazon employees can still work from home on a more flexible schedule.
The availability of flexible jobs in the US varies widely depending on the state, with the Northeast and West Coast more likely to offer remote or hybrid work schedules than the South and Midwest. The states with the highest percentage of companies offering location flexibility are:
- New Jersey
- Utah
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Connecticut
As the new work model continues to evolve, companies in locations that foster flexibility and support their digital workforces will have a competitive advantage in attracting top talent.
The Impact of Flexible Work on Women and Caregivers
Flexible work arrangements particularly benefit women, especially those with caregiving responsibilities. Just over half of women whose work-life balance improved over the past year said it was due to having a more flexible schedule, while 14% cited more remote work opportunities.
However, working from home while caring for their families may burn some employees out. They may also fear that remote work can cost them valuable time with colleagues and bosses, miss chances for promotions, and hinder their careers. Employers must work to close the gender gap and support their employees with the right tools and strategies so they don’t miss out on significant opportunities.
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The Rise of Coworking and Collaborative Office Spaces
The pandemic emptied traditional urban centers. Employers are moving their companies from pricey business districts to smaller, more affordable spaces closer to their employees and clients. Many workers moved to the suburbs during the pandemic, and returning to their original offices would mean prohibitively long commutes or expensive relocations.
Despite increasing RTO measures, the US national office vacancy rate remained at 19.7% as of March 2025, unchanged month over month and slightly higher than the previous year. Coworking spaces are gaining popularity as a cost-efficient, flexible alternative to traditional offices, with a 25% yearly increase.
Collaboration has gone virtual, with many offices designed to support in-person workers and remote employees. Meeting rooms have immersive video conferencing setups with speakers, cameras, and smart screens to close the gap between geographically dispersed colleagues. Companies are supplying their remote workers with the same communications solutions they use at the office for a seamless hybrid experience.
Small Businesses Focus on Flexibility
The new mode of working has allowed small business owners to address the office’s role in their operations. Many have relocated to smaller offices, taken advantage of coworking spaces, or gone permanently remote altogether.
Seventy percent of US companies with 500 employees or fewer offer fully flexible schedules to their workers, compared to 14% of companies with more than 25,000 employees. However, larger companies are more likely to offer structured hybrid schedules, with employees expected to be in the office on certain days of the week.
Small business owners use flexible schedules to attract talent away from larger corporations. With 40% of employees willing to accept a pay cut of 5% or more in exchange for the ability to work remotely, hybrid arrangements can be a valuable part of a job offer.
The Future of Remote and Flexible Work
It’s clear that even with RTO mandates, structured hybrid schedules will be a permanent fixture of the modern workplace. In 2024, hybrid work emerged as the dominant model, with 53% of companies requiring employees to work in the office at least three days a week, up from 37% the year prior. Meanwhile, fully remote roles sharply declined– from 21% in 2023 to just 7% in 2024 – as more employers sought predictability and in-person collaboration.
However, the future isn’t simply a return to pre-pandemic norms. Companies are increasingly tailoring their workforce policies to meet organizational needs, with 33% expanding remote opportunities in 2024. Remote hiring is also rising, from 16% to 22% from 2023 to 2024, as businesses tap into broader talent pools beyond their geographic limits.
In the years ahead, the most successful workplaces will balance flexibility, structure, and employee empowerment, enhanced and supported by a strong communications infrastructure.
Unified Communications Solutions for the Modern Workforce
As the world of work continues to evolve, virtual meetings still have room for improvement. Thirty percent of employees feel virtual meetings are less effective than in-person meetings, while 52% believe there’s no difference. Only 18% think virtual meetings are more effective.
However, with the right unified communications and collaboration (UCC) tools to connect remote, hybrid, and on-site employees, the digital workspace can be a powerful place for colleagues to connect and create.
An integrated hybrid UCC solution combining AI and voice capabilities with a top-of-the-line communications platform fosters real-time collaboration across locations. With collaborate-from-anywhere communications solutions that bridge the gap between home and the office, employees can work together no matter where they are.
One of the most remote-friendly fields, customer service benefits from omnichannel, all-in-one contact center platforms. With AI assistants, flexible deployment options, and real-time dashboards that work on any device, agents can expertly serve clients from on-premise or virtual locations.
When implemented thoughtfully, these technologies enhance employee productivity, inclusion, and cohesion, ensuring every person can perform at their highest ability from any location. Contact us to learn how to empower your remote, hybrid, and in-person teams with Mitel’s communications and collaboration solutions.