The modern workplace has been evolving at an unprecedented pace. Since 2020, organizations have navigated remote-first models, hybrid transitions, and renewed return-to-office mandates with many companies now operating all three simultaneously.
This shift has transformed how employees work, where they work, and what they need to stay healthy and productive. And with that transformation comes new ergonomic challenges and remarkable opportunities for innovation.
Below, we break down the biggest office trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for organizations looking to create healthier, more adaptive workplaces.
Recent employee and employer data paint a very clear picture. According to Gallup’s 2025 survey of remote-capable jobs, 52% of employees with remote-capable jobs work in a hybrid model, 26% are fully remote, and only 22% are entirely on-site. Most employees now move between multiple workstations (home, office, shared spaces) and each setup has different chairs, surfaces, and technology.
This variability is one of the largest drivers of discomfort today. At the same time, it presents a major opportunity for organizations to rethink ergonomics with a more modern, flexible approach.
Employers feel the shift too. Robert Half’s 2025 Workforce Survey shows that 88% of companies now offer hybrid work in some capacity, and a quarter offer it to all employees. The flexibility hybrid work offerings provide have become a talent strategy for businesses and an expectation for potential employees.
While hybrid work is dominant, several influential employers, such as Amazon, JPMorgan, Dell, and Kroger, are pulling back on remote flexibility and requiring employees to return onsite more regularly.
Their decisions are driven by several factors:
But returning to the office doesn’t automatically improve ergonomics. In some cases, it creates new risks. Many workers have spent years fine-tuning their home setups and investing in ergonomic office equipment for their homes like standing desks and adjustable chairs. Walking back into a legacy workstation with limited adjustability can lead to frustration and discomfort almost immediately.
As organizations accelerate return-to-office efforts, they face a critical question: Are their physical office spaces ready to support today’s workforce?
As thousands of employees transition between hybrid work environments or go back into offices full-time, the ergonomic landscape is shifting fast.
Three major risks are emerging now:
But this moment presents an opportunity for employers to keep and acquire talent. Companies can modernize their work environments, refresh ergonomic standards, and introduce more flexible layout strategies to build spaces designed for how people work now.
The need for individualized support is growing, but traditional one-to-one ergonomic assessments can’t keep up with distributed workforces. That’s why organizations are adopting:
These tools educate employees, reduce discomfort, and help organizations see patterns (like high-risk departments or common workstation issues) across entire populations.
With HR, safety, and facilities teams stretched thin, organizations need equipment and professionals who can support ergonomics day-to-day.
Four key roles are emerging:
The goal is to distribute knowledge so problems are caught early with backup on standby for those cases that can’t be handled with the simple solutions.
Hybrid-ready defines itself by consistent, functional setups across all places an employee works.
The biggest developments include:
When workstations “feel” the same, the body doesn’t need to constantly readjust—and employees experience far less discomfort.
AI and data analytics are transforming how organizations identify and address risk.
Key advancements include:
Technology helps expand access to ergonomic expertise. Helping companies shift from reactive fixes to proactive prevention can be done at scale with the right technology solutions.
Perhaps the biggest shift of all is how organizations view ergonomics. By shifting the view of ergonomics away from simple compliance, companies have expanded their view to see the actual business value behind ergonomics. A well-maintained workplace has:
As work environments become more complex, organizations that invest in ergonomic support will see measurable benefits in performance, culture, and employee satisfaction.
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This article has been adapted from a 60-minute Briotix Health webinar on the same topic. Watch the webinar on-demand here.