If your business allows employees to perform their jobs under a hybrid work model, you’re certainly not alone. Ever since the pandemic initiated this shift, many companies have sought to strike a critical balance between allowing remote flexibility and requiring staff to come into the office (or another type of facility).
Data released this year shows that, by and large, businesses seem to have found a certain equilibrium regarding hybrid work. However, maintaining the right balance for your company will require a careful eye on evolving trends and ongoing compliance efforts.
Schedule Control: Shifting the Hybrid Power Dynamic
Recent survey results from Gallup, published just this month, show that, as of May 2025, 51% of remote-capable employees in the United States are working under a hybrid model. This marks a slight decrease from 55% in November 2024. Interestingly, during the same period, the percentage of fully remote workers and fully on-site employees both saw a small, corresponding increase.
One particularly important issue brought up by the research is how much control a business asserts over its hybrid workers’ schedules. The data showed that the percentage of employees who describe their schedules as “entirely up to me” fell from 37% in 2024 to 34% this year, signaling a slight shift in managerial control.
How do most companies establish hybrid schedules? Gallup found that three main groups typically make the call:
- Employees themselves.
- Managers or teams.
- Leadership.
The second option generally comes out on top for satisfaction. More specifically, 91% of hybrid workers whose teams established their schedules described their employers’ policies as “fair.” That’s the same high rate as employees who determined their own schedules. When leadership mandated schedules, the fairness rate reported by hybrid workers fell to only 73%.
Policy Enforcement Sees a Significant Uptick
Another recent report on hybrid work models is the 2025 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment Survey by commercial real estate services and investment consultancy CBRE. It polled companies across the United States, Canada, and Latin America on topics that included efforts to align workspaces with hybrid work models while meeting business objectives.
Among the survey’s key findings is a notable uptick in the enforcement of hybrid work policies. In fact, 85% of responding businesses reported communicating a formal attendance policy to hybrid workers. What’s more:
- 69% of respondents measured compliance with their policies (up from 45% in 2024).
- 37% of respondents took enforcement actions (up from 17% in 2024).
Those enforcement measures appear to be effective. The survey found that 72% of respondents achieved their attendance goals in 2025 (up from 61% in 2024). Overall, the data indicates that employees averaged 2.9 days a week on-site, which aligns closely with businesses’ reported expectations of 3.2 days on average.
Cost Considerations for a Sustainable Hybrid Model
Along with determining and refining how you establish workers’ schedules and enforce your policies, you should carefully identify all the costs that accompany hybrid work. For example, even with fewer employees on-site daily, your business still needs to maintain sufficient office space.
Some companies are downsizing, while others are redesigning their layouts to accommodate shared “hot desks” and collaborative spaces. If you choose these alternatives, be aware of your lease commitments, maintenance and utility expenses, and renovation costs.
Supporting a hybrid workforce also requires secure and reliable technology infrastructure. This typically includes video conferencing tools, cloud-based software, robust cybersecurity measures, and reliable internet and networking systems. These expenses often extend to both office and home setups.
Beware of hidden costs, too. For instance, increased policy enforcement may cause your business to spend more on compliance-related technology, as well as training for HR staff and supervisors.
A Clear and Constant Financial View
The surveys mentioned above, along with other indicators, suggest that hybrid work is here to stay. Finding the optimal balance for your business depends on savvy scheduling, judicious policy enforcement, and a clear and constant view of the financial implications.
We can help you assess all the expenses involved and align spending with productivity goals to ensure your hybrid work model remains sustainable and compliant.