State of Hybrid Work 10
United Kingdom
Owl Labs’ 2026 State of Hybrid Work report — now in its 10th year — breaks down the latest trends, explores how we’re working today, and looks at what’s next.
Introduction
The uncertainty that defined the years following the pandemic has given way to something more permanent. Flexible work is no longer a temporary solution or competitive perk. It has become an expected part of modern work, with employees continuing to rank flexibility among the most important factors when evaluating where they work and whether they stay. At the same time, fewer organisations are changing their hybrid and remote work policies, signalling that many have settled into their long-term workplace strategies.
Yet work itself continues to change.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everyday workflows. Employees are taking on side hustles, redefining productivity, and increasingly blending work and personal life in ways that challenge traditional notions of the workday. Organisations are investing in smarter technology, better meeting experiences, and new approaches to leadership as they navigate a rapidly evolving workplace.
Our annual State of Hybrid Work report is now in its 10th year. This year’s report explores how employees are working today, what they expect from employers, and the trends shaping the future of work. Together, these findings paint a picture of a workforce that is more flexible, more digitally enabled, and more connected than ever before.
The future of work isn't about choosing between the office and home. It's about giving people the flexibility, technology, and support to do their best work wherever it happens.
Key Findings
- 24% of UK workers have one or more additional jobs (aka side hustles)
- Over 1 in 3 workers (35%) say work-related stress has increased since last year
- If workers had the choice, 60% would choose to work hybrid
- 38% of hybrid workers are still coffee badging (go to the office to show their face for a few hours)
- 2 out of 3 workers (66%) say that younger leaders tend to be more supportive of flexible work than older leaders
- 41% of UK workers experience meeting fatigue
- 35% of workers say their employer's or colleagues’ political opinions have made them not want to go into the office
- 68% of workers report doing work on Sundays
- 6% of workers would quit their job if they could no longer work hybrid or remotely; an additional 43% would start to look for another job that offered more flexibility in when or where they work
- Nearly 9 in 10 workers (86%) report using or experimenting with AI at work
- Over 1 in 4 AI users (26%) admit to using AI tools not officially approved by their employer
- Over 1 in 3 workers (39%) would take a 10% pay cut - or more - for flexible working hours
Section 1
The State of the Workforce
The workplace has entered a new phase. After years of rapid change, today's workforce appears to have settled into a more stable rhythm. While the balance between office, hybrid, and remote work continues to evolve, employees are increasingly redefining what work looks like through side hustles, flexible schedules, and work that extends well beyond the traditional Monday-to-Friday routine. We’ve seen the introduction of work on Sundays, with 68% saying they work on their off days — either extending the microshifting concept or allowing for deeper work (with fewer disruptions).
At the same time, return-to-office policy changes have begun to level off, suggesting organisations may finally be finding their long-term footing. This section explores the state of today's workforce and the trends shaping how people work in 2026.
Working type over the years:
Where are workers now compared to the start of the year?
Office workers have changed jobs more than non-office workers. Of those that changed jobs this year:
Most hybrid workers spend 3 days in the office per week.
But let’s talk about hybrid workers’ preferred number of days in-office:
Do workers coffee badge?
Of those that coffee badge, 79% are managers, compared to just 21% individual contributors
What workplace trends are workers participating in?
Do workers clock in on Sunday?
Regular Sunday workers within each generation:
Do workers suffer from meeting fatigue?
Those suffering from meeting fatigue by company size:
Top aspects that contribute to meeting fatigue:
Section 2
The New Rules of Work
Since the rules of work have changed, employees are making career decisions differently than they did just a few years ago.
Better work-life balance is the top reason people change jobs, but flexibility has become the biggest deal-breaker when considering a new position. When hybrid or remote workers were asked if they could no longer be allowed to work flexibly, 43% would start to look for another job that offers more flexibility and 6% would simply quit.
At the same time, 73% of employees believe return-to-office policies are being driven by leadership oversight and visibility, highlighting the ongoing tension between business priorities and employee expectations.
For those who have looked, or are looking for a new job, the primary reasons are:
Top policies that would prevent workers from accepting a job offer were focused on flexibility:
If hybrid/remote workers were no longer allowed to work remotely or in a hybrid manner, now or in the future, they would:
Of those who said they would quit, there is a clear generational divide:
The top reasons workers think employers are enforcing return-to-office policies:
Do workers find that their working style has made them more or less productive?
Managers feel hybrid and remote work makes their teams more productive:
Section 3
What Employees Really Want
Flexibility is no longer viewed as a workplace perk. It's become a defining part of the employee experience.
While 89% of employees still rank salary as their top workplace priority, flexibility continues to shape where people choose to work, with one in five workers saying they are willing to take a 15% pay cut or more—for greater flexibility in their schedule.
Employers appear to be recognising this shift, with nearly two-thirds (62%) reporting no changes to their hybrid or remote work policies over the past year. The data in this section highlights the workplace investments, benefits, and priorities that matter most to today's workforce.
The top workplace priorities for employees are:
The most appealing benefits in a prospective employer are:
What percentage of salary would workers sacrifice for each benefit?
92% of workers admit that they could be convinced to come to the office with additional incentives. The biggest incentives would be:
Section 4
The Hybrid Workplace Experience
Hybrid work has become a permanent part of the workplace, but creating a seamless experience remains a work in progress. Employees lose an average of nearly six minutes at the start of every hybrid meeting, and 73% of workers continue to experience technical issues such as poor audio, video, or connectivity.
As organisations invest in smarter meeting spaces and new workplace technology, the focus is shifting from simply enabling hybrid work to improving the overall experience itself. Employees are demanding it—83% said that good technology remains a top workplace satisfaction factor. Check out the findings that show where technology is helping teams thrive and where friction still remains.
77% of workers said that their employer made physical changes to the office in 2026. The top changes:
The main cultural changes, according to workers, are:
The top hybrid meeting issues:
When asked to think about their employer’s hybrid meeting equipment, most workers gave either positive or neutral responses. They said:
For in-office meetings, the preferred meeting room setups are:
The younger generations have strong opinions when it comes to preferred meeting setups, with 92% of Gen Z respondents saying they have one:
59% of workers believe their employer is monitoring their activities. Here’s what they think their employers are monitoring:
Should employers disclose if they are using employee monitoring tools? 82% of workers think so.
Section 5
The AI Workplace Revolution
AI has rapidly become part of the everyday work experience. More than 8 in 10 employees (86%) now use AI at work, increasing to 93% with Gen Z. Of those using AI, over 1 in 4 (26%) workers admit to using AI tools that haven't been approved by their employer.
As adoption accelerates, organisations are moving beyond experimentation and developing formal AI strategies, while employees continue to navigate questions around productivity, trust, governance, and career impact. The results offer a closer look at how AI is transforming work today and where it's headed next.
86% of workers use AI, but how reliant are they on it?
Daily AI users within each generation:
92% of managers use AI compared to 70% of individual contributors
AI x Workplace - Employees said that:
Those who worry AI will make their role obsolete within each generation:
Employers' thoughts on AI:
Employers that require or encourage the use of AI by company size:
Section 6
The Human Side of Work
Technology continues to reshape the workplace, but people remain at the centre of every organisation. Over a third of workers (35%) said their level of work-related stress increased since last year. In line with last year, we learned that more than one-third (37%) of employees report feeling disengaged at work, while burnout remains the leading reason employees lose motivation.
Managers are balancing new leadership challenges, employees are navigating career development and caregiving responsibilities, and workplace relationships continue to evolve alongside social and political dynamics. Beyond the technology and policies, these insights reveal the human factors that continue to shape workplace success.
The top workplace concerns that affect workers are:
Gen Z’s top workplace concerns:
Millennials’ top workplace concerns:
Gen X’s top workplace concerns:
Boomers’ top workplace concerns:
The main reasons workers feel disengaged at work:
Managers’ main concerns when managing remote team members:
Managers’ main concerns when managing in-office employees:
26% of remote/hybrid workers believe they are missing out on impromptu or non-formal feedback and development opportunities by not being in the office, consistent with 25% in 2025
Section 7
The Economics of Hybrid Work
Work is about more than earning a paycheck. It also shapes how employees spend their time and money. The average worker now spends nearly £37 every day they go into the office, while nearly one in four workers (24%) are partaking in polyworking - a.k.a. having a side hustle - to supplement their income.
From commuting and office attire to home office expenses and flexible schedules, today's workforce is constantly balancing financial tradeoffs. The findings show how the economics of work continue to influence everyday decisions for both employees and employers.
£26 in-office cost breakdown:
24% of workers have additional jobs/side hustles, with 17% having one additional job and 7% two or more.
Gen Z is working overtime, with 1 in 3 (33%) having a side hustle:
Most workers (62%) picked up their side hustle in the past year:
Top reasons workers have an additional job:
How much money do workers spend on clothing per month for the office?
82% of managers spend money monthly on new clothes for the office compared to 52% of individual contributors
53% of managers schedule personal appointments during working hours compared to just 42% of individual contributors.
Section 8
The Future of Work
The workplace continues to evolve, driven by changing leadership styles, emerging technologies, and new employee expectations. Nearly half of workers (42%) say they would be interested in sending an AI avatar to attend a meeting on their behalf, while 66% believe younger leaders — and the next in line — are more supportive of hybrid and remote work than previous generations.
As new workplace behaviours continue to emerge, organisations have an opportunity to rethink flexibility, collaboration, and the employee experience. Taken together, these trends offer a glimpse into what the workplace of tomorrow may look like.
Microshifting by generation. Of those that said they were interested in microshifting:
67% of managers are interested in microshifting, versus 48% of individual contributors:
How interested are workers in having an AI avatar to sit in on a meeting for them?
Trends on the rise
Top workplace trends workers are participating in:
Office workers are participating in career minimalism more than their counterparts:
Managers participate in the billboard days trend far more than individual contributors:
Unbossing is popular among the younger generations, with almost 1 in 3 Gen Z workers participating in the trend.
Quiet quitting is also more popular among the younger generations:
Conclusion
Final Thoughts
The workplace of 2026 isn’t defined by where work happens, but by how well it works. Flexibility has become an expectation, AI is reshaping how employees spend their time, and new behaviours are continuing to challenge the traditional workday. As organisations look ahead, the opportunity is no longer simply to support hybrid work, but to make work better across every location, schedule, and experience. The organisations that succeed will be those that give people the flexibility, technology, and support to stay productive, connected, and engaged, wherever work happens.
Reach out to press@owllabs.com with any press inquiries and questions.
Appendix
Background + Demographics
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About Owl Labs
Owl Labs' award-winning, AI-powered video conferencing solutions create more engaging and inclusive experiences for both remote and in-room participants. Trusted by more than 275,000 organisations worldwide — including 92 of the Fortune 100 — Owl Labs pioneered the 360-degree meeting camera category with its flagship Meeting Owl® product line. Its connected ecosystem of devices and intelligent software helps teams collaborate seamlessly, wherever work happens. To learn more, visit owllabs.co.uk.















