Nine in ten employees in India believe that hybrid working can make businesses more sustainable, finds a new study. 

Hybrid working is a flexible work arrangement that allows employees to split their time between working remotely and working in the office. This model has become increasingly popular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of remote work.

Hybrid working offers employees greater flexibility and autonomy, while also allowing businesses to reduce their physical footprint and save on overhead costs. However, it also requires careful planning and communication to ensure that employees remain productive and engaged, regardless of where they are working from

The main reasons for this are increased concentration on digital document storage and administration (44%), generally encouraging the use of digital collaboration and workflow tools, and lower electricity consumption in commercial office spaces.

As the future of work continues to change globally post-pandemic, businesses have begun modifying their approach towards sustainability through employee involvement and hybrid workplaces. 

To better understand Indian workers’ stances on their businesses’ sustainability practices, Adobe conducted its Sustainability at Work survey with over 1,000 Indian employees and business managers.

The survey respondents were asked about their company’s sustainability initiatives, as well as their projections for the future decade. According to respondents, sustainable practices in the workplace lead to advancements in workplace culture, reduced negative environmental impact, and increased overall productivity rates.

Our commitment to sustainability spans our global operations and product work by helping customers operate more efficiently and sustainably using our digital solutions. The findings of the survey show that more employees want to be involved in driving sustainable business practices in their workplaces and it is a clear reflection of an inspiring mindset that the Indian workforce holds towards a sustainable future of work,” said Prativa Mohapatra, vice-president, and managing director, Adobe India.

The survey revealed that 83% of respondents felt empowered to help improve their company’s sustainability practices and 82% would like to be more involved in promoting sustainability practices in their workplace. 

Around 70% of Indian employees feel their company is following or ahead of other companies in its sector when it comes to implementing sustainability practices, with over 84% of employees adding that their company has dedicated personnel responsible for implementing these practices.

94% of respondents said they are directly involved in promoting sustainability practices at their workplace. Additionally, 97% of executives believe it is essential for them to attain high sustainability at work, and 41% of executives ranked sustainability at the workplace as one of their top three metrics for business success. 

They also disclosed that a vast majority of Indian executives are assessed on sustainability in their performance scorecard.

A large majority of Indian executives (93%) also remarked that their company has bolstered its sustainability efforts to attract more prospective employees, with about 71% of employees stating that they would only work at a company that prioritizes sustainability.