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ZDNET's key takeaways
More employees are required to be present at least four days a week.
Return-to-office mandates don't mesh with the digital economy.
Promote hybrid or remote work by speaking management's language.
The state of hybrid or remote work is in flux, with more pressure to return to in-person offices. The number of days that hybrid workers are in the office has steadily increased from 2023 to 2025, with 34% now going to the office four days a week, up from 23% in 2023, according to a survey by technology specialist Owl Labs. At the same time, employee expectations are moving in the opposite direction. The survey found 37% of respondents would reject a job without flexible hours, 34% wouldn't accept full-time office requirements, and 30% need location freedom.
Some major employers, including Dell, Goldman Sachs, and Google, have introduced return-to-office mandates. However, it would seem to be in employers' best interest to facilitate hybrid or remote work, especially as they are locked in a struggle for high-end tech talent.
Also: 5 ways to climb the IT career ladder in 2026, according to those who made it
"Traditional hiring cannot keep pace with demand for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity talent," said Graig Paglieri, chief executive at Randstad Digital. "Companies are increasingly relying on global freelancers and digital nomads -- a talent pool expected to grow from 50 million today to more than 60 million by 2030."
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