“Many companies have asked employees to come back to the office, but the focus on flexibility remains,” Allen shares. “Flexibility will show itself in many ways with various types of hybrid work structures, flexible hours including half days in the office and banking of time to enable future blocks of time off.”

We’re talking about true flexibility, not perkwashing or rolling out a one-size-fits-all approach. Workers now expect the option to work from home or choose their hours, so they won’t be easily won over by paltry offers to occasionally have an early finish.

“It is important for employers, and more specifically managers, to work with employees to determine the type of flexibility that is possible and most needed,” says Allen. “If location flexibility is less possible, then perhaps flexible hours can be accommodated. Starting later enables school drop off and leaving earlier and finishing part of the workday a home can support after-school pick up. Even mid-day breaks can enable critical telephone calls and errands.”

Change anxiety, the monk method and true flexibility: these are the trends that will define work in 2024