THE effect of hybrid work setups on employee productivity can be debated any which way, for better or worse.
What everyone can agree upon is that these post-pandemic work arrangements have changed the workplace for good.
There is simply no going back, even for return-to-office contexts, without incorporating work-from-home (WFH) in some form.
Infinite possibilities
According to the “Future of Recruitment” report by leading online job portal JobStreet by SEEK, key benefits of hybrid work include flexible work schedules, expanded talent pool, and empowerment and diversity.
In a hybrid setup, employees typically alternate between remote work and on-site reporting. This allows workers to balance their professional and personal lives, leading to higher job satisfaction and increased productivity.
This approach also enables companies to tap into talent from rural areas and broaden their talent pool beyond their main office locations for a more diverse workforce.
“Many companies are based in major cities like Manila, Cebu, or Davao, limiting opportunities for talent from rural areas,” JobStreet by SEEK Philippines managing director Dannah Majarocon said.
“Remote work allows companies to recruit skilled workers who might not otherwise have the opportunity to live and work near an office site,” she added.
Similarly, WFH arrangements create opportunities for individuals who may face challenges working in a traditional office environment, such as persons with disabilities or single mothers.
Results of JobStreet by SEEK’s Global Talent Survey indicate that 80 percent of Filipinos prefer jobs that are either remote or hybrid.
The downside to hybrid work is its potential to lead to the “infinite workday” by removing work-life boundaries in favor of digital workstreams.
Microsoft’s Work Trend Index special report spotlights this phenomenon as seen in employees who are interrupted as frequently as every two minutes during core work hours by meetings, emails, or chats, based on Microsoft 365 signals.
Hybrid workaround
An alternative found by some workers is to rely on the presence of flexible workspaces where they can execute tasks away from home, but also separately from the office.
According to the Philippines country manager Rowena Natividad of global office space provider International Workplace Group, such a setup supports the “third dimension” of hybrid work.
“Many Filipinos live in multigenerational homes, and working from home isn’t always feasible,” Natividad said.
In fact, Manila has emerged as the fastest-growing market for flexible workspace in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, according to a report by The Instant Group.
Demand in the Philippine capital surged 51 percent year-on-year, led by a significant increase in requirements from multinational companies and the business process outsourcing sector.
Flexible workspaces are effectively designed as a “work near home” solution that caters to hybrid workers, freelancers, and startups, and a diverse market adapting to the new normal.
