Hustle culture: wake up at the crack of dawn, work round-the-clock without a break and reap the rewards down the line. That’s the mentality of this cultural phenomenon that dominated the corporate landscape for some time.

However, in a world where so many aspects of workplace culture are drastically shifting, there are signs that hustle culture is on its way out. With increasing emphasis on achieving a healthy work-life balance, a more flexible working environment is now workers' number one aspiration.

Understanding hustle culture

Hustle culture describes the idea that workers, typically in the corporate sector, should aspire to work long hours in order to achieve success. It’s grown in popularity since the 1990s and early 2000s when the sleepless nights and tireless dedication of certain tech CEOs in Silicon Valley dominated the headlines, setting a trend for intense and all-consuming work culture.

However, the grind and grit of this way of life come at a cost. It can create workplace toxicity in the form of over-competitiveness and this is without mentioning the effect it can have on employees’ mental health, often leading to burnout and a seriously skewed work-life balance.

Decline of hustle culture

In recent years, several factors have chipped away at hustle culture’s allure.

During the pandemic, without the daily grind of commuting, many people realised there's more to life than just work. The old mindset of constantly chasing promotions and higher income started to lose its appeal. In fact, a Microsoft survey shows that nearly half of workers now value family and personal time more than before 2020.

The rise of the hybrid model — where employees balance their working hours between local flexspaces, home, and occasionally company headquarters — is another turning point. It gives people more freedom to choose where and when they work best and encourages an 'outcomes over hours' approach, which is conducive to a greater work-life balance.

And then there’s the fact that hustle culture isn't equitable. It ignores the disparities and obstacles faced by marginalised groups – such as those who juggle caregiving and work, racial and ethnic minorities, and people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds – who may lack access to the networks, resources, and opportunities that provide upward mobility.

Even if these groups 'hustle' just as hard as others, they’re still less likely to occupy the highest professional positions. The pandemic highlighted these widespread inequalities, making many realise the injustice of the current system and become disillusioned with aspects of corporate culture, including the hustle.

A healthier work model

Hybrid has paved the way for a totally new approach to work and life. As we've already touched on, it empowers individuals with greater freedom to organise and manage their working lives.

Let’s get into some of the myriad benefits of the hybrid work model:

Greater work-life balance

IWG research reveals 88% of workers believe flexible working arrangements are essential for a more fulfilling professional life that delivers improvements in their mental, physical, financial and social health. With hybrid, employees feel in control of their working day and can choose where they’re going to tackle the day’s activities from – home, or a flexspace closer to home. This reduces lengthy commutes, allowing more time at home for self-care and moments with friends and family.

Healthier, happier workers

Another side effect of giving employees greater control over their schedules is that they can dedicate more time to their overall health and happiness. While this will look different for everyone, a focus on nutrition, having time to exercise and spending more time with loved ones all contribute to a thriving workforce – things that are amply aided by reduced commute times, more sleep and the option to eat and spend more time at home. In fact, 70% of employees surveyed said hybrid gave them time to prepare healthy breakfasts, while findings also showed hybrid workers get a whole 71 extra hours of sleep a year.

Increased productivity

A happier, healthier team is invariably more productive and motivated than an overworked and stressed one. An employee wellness boost will have workers happily at their desks, raring to start the day and perform at their best. Indeed, 4 out of 5 respondents in the IWG study said hybrid working had led them to be more productive in their roles.

Boost to profits

Increased productivity inevitably leads to improved revenues for businesses. But that's not the only way hybrid helps to boost the bottom line — it drives down costs, too. More than four-fifths of CFOs polled by IWG (82%) believe hybrid is a more affordable business model than the traditional, five-days-a-week at a central office. This is mainly due to the fact it allows companies to forgo long expensive leases – and save on electricity bills to boot.

Better for the environment

A report published by IWG and Arup in 2023 showed that hybrid working can play a very significant role in reducing carbon emissions in large cities – by up to 70% in the UK and up to 87% in the US. Spending less time in or travelling to a city centre office leads to a major drop in emissions from both physical office buildings and transport. Reducing commuting has the potential to make a significant difference in our fight against climate change.

Farewell to the hustle

The decline of hustle culture aligns with a rising appreciation for flexibility and balance between home and work life. It's the hybrid model that's empowering this shift, allowing people to prioritise their mental health, avoid the grind and minimise lengthy, draining commutes.

To join the hybrid revolution, check out our network of over 4,000 locations across the world and find out how we could help you boost employee wellbeing.