Hybrid work is enhancing authorities’s influence at each stage by bettering collaborative outcomes and delivering higher worker experiences. That’s why the flexibility of presidency to offer a safe and user-friendly hybrid work surroundings has change into a necessity. We’re seeing that essentially the most profitable authorities companies are ones which have pivoted their providers and work environments to be extra versatile and resilient to accommodate hybrid work. And the outcomes are optimistic, as revealed within the current 2023 Hybrid Work in Authorities Survey carried out by Market Connections for Cisco.

Acceptance of hybrid work now normalized in authorities

In accordance with the hybrid work survey, the acceptance of hybrid work by authorities staff throughout the state, native, and federal ranges is powerful, with the vast majority of respondents stating they spend three days, on common, working remotely with simply two days in-office. That is down barely from final yr’s survey response of 5 days per week on common working distant, primarily attributable to many authorities companies re-opening their places of work totally. The truth that the vast majority of workdays stay distant displays an acceptance of the hybrid work strategy by employees, and a normalization of the technique throughout authorities.

Hybrid work survey respondents are glad with their present distant work association, with 88% very or considerably glad. This mirrors final yr’s outcomes, once more displaying a stabilization in how the federal government workforce feels about hybrid work. Some key insights embrace over eight in ten respondents agreeing that implementing hybrid work has improved continuity of operations inside their organizations. This implies hybrid work insurance policies bode properly for efforts inside authorities to extend resilience and break down silos. The same quantity, 84%, additionally report an improved work-life stability. And 86% contemplate the flexibility to work remotely as essential in any future position, a response that signifies hybrid work insurance policies might assist authorities’s capability to recruit and retain expertise.

Hybrid Work in Authorities Survey reveals productiveness is powerful

The excessive variety of respondents who really feel their work-life stability has improved could also be a key driver of comparable attitudes in the direction of productiveness. The Hybrid Work in Authorities Survey outcomes point out that working distant is driving productiveness, with 82% stating they really feel simply as productive, or extra productive, than within the workplace. This excessive quantity doubtlessly displays the effectiveness of collaboration software program, comparable to Cisco Webex for Authorities, to hurry frictionless data sharing and communication each inside and throughout groups.

In truth, respondents’ satisfaction with the collaboration software program used of their companies rose considerably, up 11% over final yr to an astonishing 97%. When requested why they’re so glad, they report it’s as a result of software program working as anticipated and having an actual influence on their work. Additionally, that it’s easy to make use of and “consumer pleasant.”

Safety in hybrid work

The necessity to hold safety on the forefront when managing authorities networks, gadgets, and knowledge can be mirrored in employees’ stories of threats they’ve encountered over the past yr. For instance, 4 in ten point out experiencing a rise in safety threats encountered on the networks. The identical quantity additionally really feel safe entry to the instruments and sources they use day by day, from wherever on any system, have to be balanced with the standard of consumer expertise. Positively, authorities staff report that each considerations have declined year-over-year.

About three-quarters of all hybrid work survey respondents state they’re utilizing a work-issued or private smartphone to connect with digital conferences. This implies that acceptance of cell gadgets for collaboration amongst authorities employees has gone mainstream. But it surely additionally reinforces the necessity for presidency organizations to prioritize multi-factor authentication instruments, like FedRAMP Licensed Cisco Duo, and community safety options like Cisco Umbrella for Authorities, to safe entry to and for his or her networks.

The longer term

The general public sector faces a a lot completely different know-how panorama than only a 4 years in the past, a pattern accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s vital that IT leaders in authorities proceed their push in the direction of modernization, ensuring their infrastructure can securely and reliably deal with the long-term transition to hybrid work.

With the accelerated adoption of cell wi-fi gadgets, digital assembly and collaboration software program has change into a key instrument for presidency. As hybrid work environments proceed to mature as an accepted and useful a part of life for presidency staff, we’re assured that the optimistic developments indicated within the survey will proceed. By working collectively, the private and non-private sector can proceed to sculpt a hybrid work mannequin for presidency that’s safe, dependable, and trusted.

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