According to the report commissioned by Microsoft entitled 'Great Expectations: Making Hybrid Work Work', a clear disconnect has been found between what employees want and what employers were prepared to offer in Aotearoa. This includes hybrid work, which is a popular option amongst those surveyed but at the same time, nearly a third of New Zealand employers surveyed said they will require staff to return to the office full-time within the next year.

Some of the key findings from this survey include: Employees have a new 'worth it' equation, managers feel wedged between leadership and employee expectations, leaders need to make the office worth the commute, flexible work doesn't have to mean 'always on' and rebuilding working relationships looks different in a hybrid world.

Survey respondents have also identified meeting business objectives, positive client feedback and achieving individual goals as the most important KPIs to hit. In response, 32%  of New Zealand employers are rethinking how to measure productivity within the next year.

"By embracing modern ways of working beyond simply measuring time spent in the office, Kiwi businesses have an opportunity to really make hybrid-work work," Robert Havranek, modern work and security business group lead at Microsoft NZ said."With the new tools and technologies available, we're better able to measure the elements of work that can help local businesses unlock greater productivity, innovation and prosperity."

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns have seen people's priorities, identities and worldview changed, Microsoft said. That's led to people focusing on more of what's important to them, like health and family time.

"As a result, employees' 'worth it' equation - what people want from work and what they're willing to give in return - has changed," the company said. The study showed 47% of those surveyed were more likely to put their personal lives and family ahead of work compared to before the pandemic. Meanwhile, over half surveyed - particularly parents (55%) and women (56%) - said they were more likely to prioritise health and wellbeing over work than previously.

Around half of New Zealand employees felt they have good work relationships, despite long lockdowns and most of the country working, at least partially, remotely for the last two years.They've also realised that collaboration is key to success, the company said, whereas emailing and other admin-heavy tasks just give a visual display of being busy, rather than necessarily achieving anything.

Almost half (45%) of global employees report they wanted to spend more time networking than on admin tasks and a third want to be able to create more of an impact through mentoring colleagues.