A full 74% of people in the hybrid model are more productive and at the same time fall ill less often than those who work exclusively in the office or completely remotely.
What has long been a gut feeling is now scientifically proven. Flexible working models create balance and strengthen body, mind and performance. This is shown by a new study by the International Workplace Group (IWG) with over 2,000 participants. The message is clear: flexible working makes you healthier, more motivated and more productive.
This article uses impressive figures to show how hybrid working models promote health and productivity at the same time.
Less commuting, more time for health
The classic "drive an hour to the office first" model is giving way to a smarter reality: working where life takes place. And that pays off in measurable ways.
According to the IWG study, 36% of hybrid workers take fewer sick days. No wonder: those who don't spend their mornings stuck in traffic jams or waiting on draughty platforms start the day calmer, more relaxed and healthier. Instead of stress before 8 a.m., they have a quiet breakfast, perhaps even a short workout block or time with the family.
The white paper with the research results of the IWG study also shows that
- 72 %of people in the hybrid model manage existing health problems better.
- 74% use the time gained for preventative care, check-ups and healthy routines.
These time slots used to be a luxury and are now part of a new working rhythm. Flexibility makes prevention possible. And prevention saves energy, nerves and, in the long term, costs.
Flexibility makes you fit
More space in the diary also means more room for movement. New opportunities to be active arise in the hybrid everyday life. And not just after work: a jogging session in the lunch break, a short stretch session on the yoga mat or simply cooking fresh food instead of choosing the remoulade roll from the bakery.
The IWG study shows that there is a fitness effect in the hybrid model:
- 68% of people in the hybrid model feel physically fitter.
- The physical activity of hybrid workers increases on average from 3.4 to 4.7 hours per week.
- 58% of people in the hybrid model cook fresh food more often instead of resorting to quick convenience food.
This is a clear everyday effect. When exercise no longer has to be an additional activity, but is integrated into the day, it becomes feasible. The same applies to a healthier diet:
Logical. If you don't eat breakfast on the train or wolf down your lunch between two meetings at your desk, you make more conscious decisions.
Healthy eating in a stressful working day? Our article Brainfood for the office shows how to do it.
Sleep & energy: recovery as a productivity driver
Rest is not a luxury, but the basis for performance. The hybrid working day creates space for exactly that: starting later, switching off earlier, really arriving in the evening.
It is important that there are clear rules in the hybrid model. When is presence required, how many fixed home office days are there? Teams that agree on fixed office days experience fewer misunderstandings, can plan face-to-face meetings and have more room for spontaneous dialogue.
You can find out more about clear rules in the hybrid model in our article: Why unclear home office rules paralyse teams (and how to do it better).
Back to the recovery effect: according to the IWG study, hybrid workers sleep an average of 71 hours more per year. The respondents reported a significantly better sleep rhythm and higher sleep quality.
Instead of stumbling through meetings tired, they have more energy for demanding tasks. They also have more energy for private matters and are able to take short breaks again: a short walk, a real lunch break, five minutes to close their eyes.
Mental health thanks to balance
Flexibility not only has a physical effect, but also a mental one. People who work hybrid hours live a daily routine that adapts to their lives instead of the other way round. This relieves stress.
According to the IWG study, people in flexible working models therefore benefit from significantly better mental health:
- 75% have fewer symptoms of burnout
- 80 % have fewer feelings of anxiety
- and 76% say that five days in the office would be detrimental to their well-being.
This makes it clear that freedom of choice in everyday working life protects against stress, strengthens resilience and makes people happier.
Closeness when it counts: Team spirit and culture
Work is more than just completing tasks. It thrives on dialogue, trust, spontaneous ideas and genuine cooperation. At the same time, recent years have shown that not everyone has to sit in the same office every day. The decisive factor is not where, but how often and for what purpose employees come together.
Studies have shown for years that social interaction boosts performance, motivation and mental health. Team days, collaborative workshops and personal discussions keep relationships alive. But not permanently, but purposefully and consciously.
With their meeting room solutions, coworking spaces such as the Office Club offer places for remote workers who want to come together: The prestigious conference rooms are furnished to a high standard, fully equipped with technology and offer space for small and large-scale events. Click here to easily book Office Club meeting rooms online.
Fewer sick days - a benefit for everyone
According to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 128 billion euros are lost every year in Germany due to sick leave.
Or to put it another way: with an average of 21 sick days per employee, a total of 886.2 million days of incapacity to work were incurred in 2023.
One lever to reduce this: Hybrid working! Whether it's better prevention, more exercise or less mental stress: hybrid reduces sick days and this is felt not only by each individual, but by entire economies. Because the equation is as simple as it is obvious: More well-being, fewer sick days. Flexible models make people healthier and companies and countries more efficient.
Conclusion: Hybrid working is a proven formula for success
The data from the study by the International Workplace Group speaks for itself: flexibility boosts health, motivation and performance. Hybrid models create working environments in which people can enjoy working well in the long term.
Because when time, relaxation, exercise and social interaction become part of everyday life again, everyone benefits: less stress, fewer sick days, better results. Work becomes more human and at the same time more productive. The future of work is hybrid and lies between mandatory presence and home office isolation.
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