businessinfomag.uk magazine 12 turning to fractional executives and opting for part-time or contractbased C-suite talent as a way of accessing laser-focused expertise without the cost of full-time appointments. With 87% of CEOs and CFOs concerned about the impact of ongoing macroeconomic instability and two thirds (67%) already reducing operating costs, businesses are looking for smarter leadership models.2 This flexibility allows companies to secure world-class strategic insight when needed, while enabling experienced professionals to work across multiple organisations. 6. Building 15-minute cities from the ground up The 15-minute city concept, where everything from work to leisure is within a short walk or cycle ride, is entering a new phase in 2026. Until recently, this has mainly been a story of adaptation: retrofitting existing neighbourhoods to bring work, living and recreation closer together. In the year ahead, 15-minute cities will be built from the ground up to encourage connectivity, sustainability and community. One standout example is The Ellinikon in Athens, one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects, built on the site of the former airport with over $8 billion in funding. Meanwhile, in the US, The Point in Utah is transforming the site of the former state prison into a model community designed around 15-minute city principles. Hybrid work is making these urban ecosystems viable, as professionals choose to live and work locally while businesses decentralise their footprints to be closer to where people actually from more convenient places closer to home. Not so much a Return to the Office as a Return to Several Offices. 3. Micro-certifications as currency Hybrid workers will increasingly stack ‘micro-certifications’ (bitesized, skills-focused credentials) instead of relying on traditional degrees or annual performance reviews. Employers will support this by funding on-demand learning platforms, creating more agile talent pools. This trend will advance internal mobility, with skills becoming more portable and accessible. 4. Reversing the ‘quiet crack’ Unlike ‘quiet quitting’, where employees deliberately do the bare minimum of work, ‘quiet cracking’ describes employees who are still performing, but feel mentally and emotionally checked out, resulting in burnout, stalled progression and a lack of purpose. With 57% of workers saying they’re more likely to disengage when they feel undervalued or micromanaged, companies will put more emphasis on employee wellbeing and flexible work options to remain competitive and keep people engaged.1 As wellbeing becomes a bigger focus, companies are expected to move beyond traditional perks and start using ‘well-tech’ tools like stress-tracking wearables, AI mental health reminders and wellness challenges that gamify healthy habits to make them more engaging. 5. Fractional C-suite and executive talent As they navigate economic uncertainty, more companies are 1. The rise of AI: your work co-pilot In 2026, hybrid teams will more regularly integrate AI copilots into their daily operations. These systems will significantly reduce the need for simple tasks such as admin, knowledge retrieval and scheduling. Employees will find themselves with more time to do creative work, tackle complex problem-solving tasks, develop meaningful relationships and even manage their work-life balance, ultimately leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. This shift is being accelerated by a new wave of inter-generational collaboration. Research from IWG reveals that 62% of Gen Z employees are already coaching older colleagues on how to use AI to boost productivity and efficiency. Capitalising on this trend, employers will use AI and workplace analytics to create ‘personalised hybrid plans’ for each employee, including optimised schedules, ideal collaboration days and preferred office or coworking locations. 2. Return-to-Several-Offices Companies of all sizes are moving away from loosely defined hybrid policies to more structured, multi-location models, with teams increasingly empowered to work Last year, flexible workspace pioneer International Workplace Group (IWG), the power behind brands such as Regus, Spaces, HQ and Signature, generated record revenues and added 1,000 new workspaces, increasing its network to 5,000 locations. Here, IWG Founder and CEO Mark Dixon highlights 10 key trends set to shape the world of work in 2026 How technology, talent and trust are reshaping the workplace OFFICES Mark Dixon
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUxNDM=