Gen Z hybrid working stories explored in exhibition

A participatory exhibit has highlighted the "isolating," "work-centric," and "strengthening" experiences of youngsters in a blended workplace setting.

Exploring Hybrid Work, as featured during the Oxford Brookes University Think Human festival, delved into the advantages and disadvantages of this working style.

The research director, Sylwia Ciuk, mentioned that the group dedicated approximately 70 hours to interview fresh university graduates regarding their experiences.

The creative director, Mitaali Katoch, expressed her hope that the study would impact policy decisions. She also mentioned that the team has presented their findings to Parliament, advocating for increased guidelines on hybrid work arrangements to foster greater workplace diversity.

Hybrid work involves employees splitting their time between the office and locations such as home or alternative sites, collaborating with various teams, and occasionally operating across differing time zones.

Kofi Owusu-Aidoo, a recent business management graduate who is 24 years old, has a hybrid job position. He mentioned that many young individuals appreciate the adaptability and autonomy this setup provides.

Starting from April 2024, employees in the UK have had the right - introduced during the preceding Conservative administration - allowing employees to request flexible work arrangements upon commencing employment, though companies are not obligated to approve these requests.

However, Mr. Owusu-Aidoo mentioned that numerous employers "are beginning to acknowledge Generation Z and understand how to meet their requirements in the work environment."

Individuals enjoy sharing their experiences by saying, ‘my employer believed in me, which led to the outcomes I achieved,’ thus demonstrating how these narratives could be repeated nationwide.

• Why younger workers want hybrid work most
• Why Gen Z workers are starting on the back foot
• 'Office culture' as we know it is dead. Workers have other ideas

Gen Z represents about 27% of the workforce in 2025.

"We were interested in getting a broad range of perspectives, looking at both home graduates and international graduates," Ms Ciuk said.

They gathered diverse work experiences ranging from big corporations, universities, and nonprofits to startups and municipal governments.

Ms Ciuk mentioned that "the most heartbreaking accounts" from her study were connected to domestic environments where individuals experienced "solitude."

Another had to function as a "miniature kitchen table."

"Nearwhere most of the family activities were happening, there was a dog constantly barking, and many deliveries occurred since their mother wasn’t aware that this would cause disturbance,” she clarified.

She mentioned that numerous individuals discussed the shortage of funds for purchasing proper gear, impacting their physical well-being and mental state.

Ms. Katoch stated, "This initiative has the potential to create significant influence and bring about transformation."

Ms. Ciuk stated that the team was "alarmed by the rising popularity of the" go back to the workplace directive ".

She went on to say, 'The updated industrial plan also focuses on expanding the diversity of their personnel and creating more job opportunities for broader demographics.'

She mentioned that additional direction was required on The Eight Reasons for Denying Flexible Work Arrangements .

"There are certainly challenges associated with moving to this type of job," she stated.

However, when we spoke with individuals who have neurodiversity and chronic conditions, they shared that due to hybrid work arrangements, they can now engage in employment more extensively compared to what would be possible otherwise.

Even though the exhibit has ended, the team continues to seek additional participants for their research.

You can follow The News PulseOxfordshire on Facebook , X (Twitter) , or Instagram .

More on this story

• Is remote work potentially coming to an end?
• The humanities festival at the university was deemed 'most impressive.'

Related Links

• Think Human Festival