Businesses in Asia expected to continue hybrid work

Most companies (85%) in Asia are now promoting hybrid working arrangements, with 70% recruiting talent worldwide and allowing such practices, revealed survey results by telecommunications firm Telstra.

Companies surveyed are expecting virtual work to increase by 83% in the next six to 12 months, despite offices reopening. Some 74% of employees in Asia Pacific also believe that they and their teams are more productive with flexible work arrangements.

Geraldine Kor, Managing Director, South Asia, Telstra, said, “The changes from the past two years have triggered leaders to respond to new expectations from their employees and prompted businesses to accelerate their digital ambitions to stay relevant and continue to be available for customers.

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“As we learn to navigate further uncertainties in the current economy, leaders must continue to be compassionate, and lean on digital tools to facilitate open communications with their teams. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to building the work environment, but the right use of technology has the potential to facilitate employee engagement and foster corporate culture despite a decentralised workforce.”

The survey, which gathered responses from over 450 business decision-makers and 560 employees in Asia, also found that employees’ top three tools to enable self-sufficient remote working include: wireless networks and other related services (57%); quality and uptime of remote working services (55%); and communication and collaboration (52%).