Amit Kramer is a professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who studies the relationship between work, family and health. Kramer spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about the future of office work.

As the COVID-19 pandemic ebbs, remote work is gradually turning into hybrid work – three days in the office, two days remote, or vice versa – with no return in sight for the pre-pandemic five-days-in-the-office work week. Will hybrid work be the norm going forward?

Yes and no. Organizations are likely to pay close attention to this and see which workers are as productive – or even more productive – when they work in a hybrid environment and which ones aren’t. In addition, organizations are also collecting and analyzing data on which occupations and tasks are better performed in a hybrid environment. For example, it’s possible that some human resources functions can be performed in a hybrid environment just as well as at the office, while other HR functions such as talent development are better performed in an office environment.

Another thing to consider is the very low unemployment rate right now. This won’t last forever, and it’ll be interesting to see if organizations become more strict about a full return to office work when unemployment increases and organizations aren’t as concerned about workers leaving.

Ultimately, I expect employees with power – professionals with high skills that are difficult...