Is This the End of Hustle Culture?
The pandemic, followed by the widespread adoption of hybrid work, reshaped our views on the corporate grind. Now, our lives are healthier and more balanced, and many of us are moving away from the 'always on' mindset. It begs the question: Is hustle culture on its last legs?
Hustle culture: wake up at the crack of dawn, work round-the-clock without a break and reap the rewards down the line. That's the mentality of this cultural phenomenon that has dominated the corporate landscape for some time.
However, in a world where so many aspects of workplace culture are drastically shifting, there are signs that hustle culture is on its way out. With increasing emphasis on achieving a healthy work-life balance, a more flexible working environment is now workers' number one aspiration.
Understanding hustle culture
Hustle culture describes the idea that workers, typically in the corporate sector, should aspire to work long hours to succeed. It's grown in popularity since the 1990s and early 2000s when the sleepless nights and tireless dedication of certain tech CEOs in Silicon Valley dominated the headlines, setting the trend for intense and all-consuming work culture.
However, the grind and grit of this way of life come at a cost. It can create workplace toxicity in the form of over-competitiveness, and this is without mentioning the effect it can have on employees' mental health, often leading to burnout and a seriously skewed work-life balance.
Decline of hustle culture
Several factors have chipped away at hustle culture's allure in recent years.
During the pandemic, without the daily grind of commuting, many people realised there's more to life than work. The old mindset of constantly chasing promotions and higher income started to lose its appeal. In fact, a Microsoft survey shows that nearly half of workers now value family and personal time more than before 2020.
"The rise of the hybrid model — where employees balance their working hours between local flex spaces, home, and occasionally company headquarters — is another turning point. It gives people more freedom to choose where and when they work best and encourages an 'outcomes over hours' approach, which is conducive to a greater work-life balance", says Joanne Bushell, CEO of IWG Plc, South Africa
"And then there’s the fact that hustle culture isn't equitable. It ignores the disparities and obstacles faced by marginalised groups – such as those who juggle caregiving and work, racial and ethnic minorities, and people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds – who may lack access to the networks, resources, and opportunities that provide upward mobility", she adds.
Even if these groups 'hustle' just as hard as others, they’re still less likely to occupy the highest professional positions.
The pandemic highlighted these widespread inequalities, making many realise the current system's injustice and disillusioned with aspects of corporate culture, including the hustle.
A healthier work model
Hybrid has paved the way for a new work and life approach. As we've already touched on, it empowers individuals with greater freedom to organise and manage their working lives.
Let’s get into some of the myriad benefits of the hybrid work model:
- Greater work-life balance
IWG research reveals that 88% of workers believe flexible working arrangements are essential for a more fulfilling professional life that improves their mental, physical, financial and social health. With hybrid, employees feel in control of their working day and can choose where they will tackle the day's activities – home or a flex space closer to home. This reduces lengthy commutes, allowing more time at home for self-care and moments with friends and family.
- Healthier, happier workers
Another side effect of giving employees greater control over their schedules is that they can dedicate more time to their overall health and happiness. While this will look different for everyone, focusing on nutrition, having time to exercise and spending more time with loved ones all contribute to a thriving workforce – things that are amply aided by reduced commute times, more sleep and the option to eat and spend more time at home. In fact, 70% of employees surveyed said hybrid gave them time to prepare healthy breakfasts, while findings also showed hybrid workers get a whole 71 extra hours of sleep a year.
- Increased productivity
A happier, healthier team is invariably more productive and motivated than an overworked and stressed one. An employee wellness boost will have workers happily at their desks, raring to start the day and perform at their best. Indeed, 4 out of 5 respondents in the IWG study said hybrid working had led them to be more productive in their roles.
- Boost to profits
Increased productivity inevitably leads to improved revenues for businesses. But that's not the only way hybrid helps boost the bottom line — it also drives down costs. More than four-fifths of CFOs polled by IWG (82%) believe hybrid is a more affordable business model than the traditional five-days-a-week at a central office. This is mainly because it allows companies to forgo long, expensive leases – and save on electricity bills to boot.
- Better for the environment
A report published by IWG and Arup in 2023 showed that hybrid working can significantly reduce carbon emissions in large cities – by up to 70% in the UK and up to 87% in the US. Spending less time in or travelling to a city centre office significantly drops emissions from both physical office buildings and transport. Reducing commuting has the potential to make a significant difference in our fight against climate change.
- Farewell to the hustle
The decline of hustle culture aligns with a rising appreciation for flexibility and balance between home and work life. The hybrid model empowers this shift, allowing people to prioritise their mental health, avoid the grind and minimise lengthy, draining commutes.
About IWG
IWG is the global leader in hybrid work solutions and workspace brands. We create personal, financial, and strategic value for businesses of every size, from some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. They all harness the power of IWG's hybrid working platform to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility, and market proximity.
IWG’s unrivalled network coverage includes approximately 3,500 locations across more than 120 countries, and 83% of Fortune 500 companies are amongst our growing customer base.
Through our brands, including Regus, Spaces, HQ and Signature, we help millions of people and their businesses to work more productively. We do so by providing the world's leading hybrid work platform with professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces and digital services, all available via the IWG app. For more information
Visit www.iwgplc.com, and for more information on partnering with IWG, see: https://www.iwgplc.com/develop-a-location
