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The Future Is Hybrid: How Organisations Are Designing and Supporting Sustainable Hybrid Work Models in Post-Pandemic Australia

Author

Listed:
  • John Hopkins

    (Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Anne Bardoel

    (Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

Hybrid work models have rapidly become the most common work arrangement for many knowledge workers, affording them with improved work–life balance and greater levels of job satisfaction, but little research has been conducted to identify the different hybrid work models that are emerging, and the appropriate supports needed to drive sustainable improvement. This paper utilises primary data from a series of semi-structured interviews with senior Australian human resource (HR) managers, to identify a range of different approaches to hybrid work design, applying the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. Analyses of these findings have resulted in five key contributions: one being the identification of the most popular current hybrid work arrangements; the second being the key supporting pillars that are required to support successful hybrid work; the third identifies the infrastructure required to support these pillars; the fourth being a theoretic contribution that extends the existing academic literature in this field; and with the final contribution being an interpretation of the findings via COR theory. These contributions have significant implications for both scholars and human resource professionals, as organisations and academics strive to learn from the recent period of turbulence and develop sustainable improvements in performance and working conditions (SDG8), with improved support for employee health and wellbeing (SDG3), and gender equality (SDG5).

Suggested Citation

  • John Hopkins & Anne Bardoel, 2023. "The Future Is Hybrid: How Organisations Are Designing and Supporting Sustainable Hybrid Work Models in Post-Pandemic Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3086-:d:1061766
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anielson Barbosa da Silva & Fernando Castelló-Sirvent & Lourdes Canós-Darós, 2022. "Sensible Leaders and Hybrid Working: Challenges for Talent Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Herman Aguinis & Angelo M. Solarino, 2019. "Transparency and replicability in qualitative research: The case of interviews with elite informants," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(8), pages 1291-1315, August.
    3. Magnus Moglia & John Hopkins & Anne Bardoel, 2021. "Telework, Hybrid Work and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Policy Coherence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-28, August.
    4. Magnus Moglia & Stephen Glackin & John L. Hopkins, 2022. "The Working-from-Home Natural Experiment in Sydney, Australia: A Theory of Planned Behaviour Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Z. Goosen & E. J. Cilliers, 2020. "Enhancing Social Sustainability Through the Planning of Third Places: A Theory-Based Framework," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 835-866, August.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vivek Vohra & Shiwangi Singh & Tanusree Dutta, 2024. "Embracing Flexibility Post-COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Flexible Working Arrangements Using the SCM-TBFO Framework," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(1), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Arshad, Idrees Ahmad & Ali, Amjad & Audi, Marc, 2025. "Evaluating Remote and Office-Based Work: A Multidimensional Analysis of Employee Outcomes in the Evolving Workplace," MPRA Paper 127312, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Robert Edric Josef R. Lizares & Maria Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, 2024. "Building sustainable organizations online: How leaders embed sustainability into organizational culture in virtual contexts," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6434-6448, December.
    4. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:10:p:5520-5535 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Hryn Dmytro V. & Yaroshenko Oleg M. & Tykhonovych Oleksii Y. & Hryhorenko Dmytro A. & Pavlichenko Volodymir, 2024. "Legal Regulation of Hybrid Work Models and Their Impact on Work-Life Balance: A Case Study of Ukraine," Comparative Southeast European Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 72(4), pages 419-435.
    6. Armand Brice Kouadio, 2023. "Flexibilization of working conditions and empowerment of public employees: What added value for work performance? [Flexibilisation des conditions de travail et autonomisation des employés publics : Quelle valeur ajoutée pour la performance au trav," Post-Print halshs-04365767, HAL.
    7. Anastasia Sinitsyna & Luca Alfieri, 2026. "The Response by Co‐Working Spaces to Digital Transformation in Singapore," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 14.
    8. Chiara D’Angelo & Alice Negro & Irene Cassarino, 2024. "The Relationship between Smart Working and Workplace Social Capital: An Italian Case Study on Work Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Jinjia Liang & Tomio Miwa & Takayuki Morikawa, 2023. "Preferences and Expectations of Japanese Employees toward Telecommuting Frequency in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-16, August.
    10. Rudo Rachel Marozva & Anna-Marie Pelser, 2025. "Social Well-Being Strategies for Academics Working in a Hybrid Work Environment," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, September.
    11. Sara Petrilli & Marianna Giunchi & Anne-Marie Vonthron, 2024. "Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) and Adjustment to the Work Mode as Protective Factors to Counteract Exhaustion and Turnover Intention: A Chain Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Minthiva Pitchaya-Auckarakhun, 2024. "The future of work: financial implications of remote and hybrid work models," Nowoczesne Systemy Zarządzania. Modern Management Systems, Military University of Technology, Faculty of Security, Logistics and Management, Institute of Organization and Management, issue 1, pages 13-38.
    13. Ilyar Heydari Barardehi & Anna Kurowska, 2024. "Were Parents Synchronizing Their Home-Based Working Arrangements During the COVID-19 Pandemic?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 569-588, July.
    14. John Hopkins, 2024. "Managing the Right to Disconnect—A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.

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