Despite the restructuring, hybrid working is the future, says Grant Thornton

“Hybrid working was not just a temporary crisis response during the pandemic, but has now become one of the pillars of the world of work. Companies that are able to integrate flexibility in the long term have a proven competitive advantage – not only in terms of efficiency, but also in terms of retention”

– said Gábor Szarka, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Hungary.

According to the firm’s experience, the majority of employees feel that they can be more productive if they can work from home at least a few days a week. A return to full office presence, on the other hand, can reduce motivation and increase the risk of turnover – especially among younger generations.

“Working from home provides our colleagues with enormous empowerment, trust and freedom. We do not intend to change this. Everyone has individual needs, and Grant Thornton’s flexibility supports this: those who need more teamwork and more human interaction can come in more days a week. For those jobs where teamwork is more necessary, we help with work organization. The teams divide the office days in such a way that they actually meet each other.”

“In our recruitment and selection processes, we are increasingly experiencing a growing demand from applicants for teleworking 2-3 days a week. With the hybrid working model, we not only increase the satisfaction of our employees, but also gain a competitive advantage in the labor market. This is also supported by annual internal satisfaction surveys our experience. The possibility of remote work contributes to strengthening the loyalty of colleagues, which not only contributes to reducing fluctuation, but also to reducing recruitment costs”

– said HR Director Ágnes Csók.

This trend is not only a domestic phenomenon. According to the 2024–2025 global research by the International Workplace Group (IWG), those doing hybrid work:

• take 36% less sick leave;
• 70% report fewer stress-related health complaints;
• 74% say they have better control over their health;
• 80% feel their work-life balance has improved.

The hybrid work model not only provides a healthier work environment, but also has a positive impact on company performance: according to IWG data, 85% of employees working in a hybrid are more satisfied, 74% feel more motivated, and 86% believe that the hybrid model contributes significantly to employee retention.

An international study led by Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom also came to a similar conclusion. In an experiment conducted on a sample of over 1,600 people, it was found that employees who could work from home two days a week performed equally well, had the same chance of being promoted, and had a 33% reduction in turnover. The impact was particularly strong among women, non-managerial workers and long-distance commuters.