August - is there any month more robust?

The Hybrid Work Era
Hybrid work has entrenched itself as the dominant model for NYC offices. What began as a pandemic necessity (remote work) has now become a lasting feature of work life. Surveys of Manhattan employers show that on an average weekday, only about 56% of office workers are actually going in to work. This represents a 72% return-to-office rate compared to pre-COVID attendance (which was around 78% on a given day), a plateau that has held for months.

Crucially, not many NYC office workers are back full-time Monday through Friday. As of May 2024, only 11% of Manhattan office employees are in the office all five days a week. Most firms have seemed to move to hybrid: 17% come in four days, 38% three days, 17% two days, and 9% just that one day a week. Another 7% remain fully remote. These numbers make it clear that hybrid is the new default. Most companies have settled into a standard of 3 days in-office and 2 days remote, often with planned overlap days for team collaboration.

This shift is visible across industries. Firms in traditional sectors like real estate, law, and finance have higher in-office attendance (60-80% on a given day), as their work requires physical presence. Banks and law firms, though, still haven’t brought everyone back for all five days, hovering around 60-80% attendance vs. pre-pandemic, indicating considerable hybrid operation. Tech companies, media, and creative industries lean even more remote-friendly, often with flexible policies and lower daily office headcounts (some media firms report <50% in-office on average). Overall, 60% of NYC employers now officially have hybrid schedules in place for their workforce, and an additional 34% have a mix of hybrid and fully-remote roles depending on job function. Only 5% of companies require full in-person attendance for all staff, a dramatic change from pre-covid norms.

The hybrid era hasn’t been without friction. Many organizations spent 2022 to 2024 nudging employees back to the office, and by 2025 most have stabilized. About one-third of companies (36%) admit to struggles getting employees to comply with in-office requirements, as some workers simply ignore mandated office days or find ways around them. In response, 30% of firms increased office attendance mandates in the past year (while only 2% relaxed them). With the labor market still firm, companies have had to balance enforcement with morale. Many have opted for reward over punishment, offering free lunches, commuter benefits, or in-office events to entice staff to come in more often, rather than issuing harsh ultimatums.

“The Office” Redefined
For those days when employees do go into work, the office experience in NYC is drastically changing. Companies are redesigning spaces to be more collaborative and social, since individual focused work can often be done at home. Open floor plans with more huddle rooms, lounges, and coffee bar-style areas are “in.” There’s a push to make the office a destination that offers something remote work cannot: spontaneous interactions, teamwork, and access to amenities.

Additionally, flexible workspace solutions are on the rise. NYC leads the nation with the most coworking spaces. The metro area boasts 606 coworking locations, with over 360 in city proper. These range from WeWork and Industrious sites to smaller boutique coworking lofts. Many companies downsized their dedicated offices and now supplement with coworking memberships for employees who might otherwise work from an apartment. New Yorkers have embraced coworking not just as freelancers or startups, but even corporate employees using them as “third places” near home for a change of scenery or shorter commute. Notably, New York City’s own government expanded a remote work pilot allowing city employees to work from home two days per week, and as part of that, some city agencies are exploring coworking passes for staff who live far from their Manhattan headquarters. The city’s stance is symbolic: even municipal workers, once entirely office-bound, are shifting toward flexibility.

With hybrid schedules prevalent, the concept of the workweek is also being changed. Summer 2025 held rising interest in alternative schedules like the four-day workweek. In New York State, legislators introduced bills to pilot a 32-hour workweek for both government and willing private employers. NYC had already launched a notable experiment: in January, Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s largest union (DC 37) began a four-day workweek pilot for some city employees. In this program, employees compress their standard hours into four longer days and get an extra day off. The pilot, running through May 2025, targets roles that cannot be done remotely (e.g., certain field jobs), aiming to improve work-life balance without hurting service. The fact that the city that never sleeps is trying a shorter week is unbelievable for some. Several NYC-based private companies are also testing the waters, often with Friday as a standard off-day or half-day. Early feedback suggests employee morale and productivity can be improved with a 4-day work week, but broader adoption will depend on the results of these current “tests.”

Employee Priorities and Employer Responses
The power dynamic between employees and employers is also in flux. During 2021-2022’s hot job market, employees had leverage to demand remote options; by 2025, with hiring somewhat cooler, employers have gained confidence to enforce more structure. Still, the pandemic caused a permanent shift in employee mindsets. Workers now prioritize flexibility, work-life balance, and well-being more than ever. A recent survey found a majority of U.S. workers would consider quitting if forced into full-time office work with no flexibility. In NYC, where commutes can get very hectic, that sentiment is amplified. Many employees have grown accustomed to reclaiming commuting time for family time, and they’re reluctant to give it up. Employers, recognizing this, are expanding benefits and wellness initiatives to keep staff engaged. It’s become increasingly more common for NYC firms to offer mental health days, free wellness app subscriptions, and stipends for home office equipment. Some companies are experimenting with “async Fridays” (no meetings) or seasonal compressed schedules (like Summer Fridays off) to prevent employee unhappiness. The concept of “quiet quitting” (employees doing the bare minimum) made waves in 2022; NYC managers responded by trying to foster more purposeful, engaging work environments when people are on-site, so employees feel the office is worth the trip. Another cultural shift: the talent pool for NYC jobs has broadened geographically. With more remote opportunities, companies are hiring out-of-region employees who might only fly in occasionally. This has created a new challenge: how to integrate fully remote workers into traditional office culture. Firms are investing in better video conferencing tech and scheduling quarterly in-person summits to build camaraderie. Nevertheless, some friction exists: those in-office sometimes feel remote colleagues miss out on important decisions, while remote workers worry about “proximity bias” favoring those seen in person.

The Future: A New Work-Life Balance
As of August 2025, the trajectory in NYC is toward a middle path that tries to balance business needs with employee flexibility. Most leaders have come around to the idea that flexible work is a fully permanent feature. Even finance giants, initially stern on office returns, have eased up. For example, JPMorgan now allows certain teams a hybrid schedule, and several investment firms moved to “hoteling” office setups that assume not everyone is in daily.

From the employee perspective, the stigma that once existed around remote work has diminished. Professionals can build successful NYC careers while working remotely, as long as they deliver results. The city’s starting to look different, and remote work plays a huge part in that.

One can walk through Midtown on a given Wednesday (one of the popular “in-office” days) and see busy offices and packed happy hour spots, a semblance of the old normal. On Mondays or Fridays, however, the character changes: fewer suits on trains, more laptops in coffee shops, and more daytime doordash deliveries citywide. The city is adapting too: businesses that cater to in-person workers have had to adjust hours and expectations, while residential neighborhoods see increased daytime activity.

Overall, NYC’s work culture in 2025 is more dynamic and worker-centric than ever. Companies that embrace flexibility and innovate in how they use office space are finding it easier to attract and retain talented workers. Those clinging to 2019 ways risk employee dissatisfaction. As we look beyond 2025, expect New York to continue leading in this arena, perhaps even pioneering new norms like the four-day week if pilots prove successful. The city that thrives on innovation is innovating on work itself, forging a new balance that might just set a model for other global business hubs.

Sources: Partnership for NYC – Return to Office Survey (May 2024) (pfnyc.org) • CoworkingCafe – NYC Tops Coworking Metros 2024 (coworkingcafe.com) • CBS News – NYC Trials Four-Day Workweek with City Union (cbsnews.com)