The Future of Work: Defined by the Experience We Build

For years, the conversation around work was focused on a single point: location. Should we return to the office or keep working from home? However, after several years of transformation, it has become clear that this question no longer addresses the true challenges facing companies.

The future of work is not about choosing between in-person or remote work. It is about building models capable of adapting to talent's needs, driving better results, and creating work experiences that truly add value.

Today, we are experiencing a new phase where people are not rejecting the office; they are rejecting spaces that have not evolved.

According to our recent study, "The Work Experience Mexico 2026: Earning Well, Living Better, and Growing Without Compromising," developed in partnership with Michael Page, Mexican talent continues to value face-to-face interaction but demands more efficient, flexible environments aligned with their new priorities. The research, based on nearly 3,000 surveys and 150 interviews across Latin America, reflects a structural shift in workplace expectations.

The Workforce Gap

One of the most significant findings is the gap between how people currently work and how they want to work. While a substantial portion of organizations maintains traditional setups, 56.9% of talent in Mexico prefers a hybrid model, driven primarily by factors related to productivity, work-life balance, and time optimization.

For decades, we assumed that physical presence automatically generated collaboration, but today we know that merely gathering people in the same space is not enough. The experience must be designed to facilitate connection, creativity, and performance.

The study shows that a significant portion of current barriers relates to the physical experience of the space:

• 37% of workers identify noise and a lack of adequate spaces for concentration as major difficulties.
• 35.9% point to problems related to the availability of sufficient seating.
• 35.2% mention infrastructure limitations.

These figures lead us to an important conclusion: we are not facing the end of the office, but rather its evolution.

Another factor accelerating this transformation is technology. Artificial intelligence is redefining processes, skills, and work dynamics; however, far from being seen solely as a threat, Mexican talent is adopting it as an enabler.

The study reveals that 88.5% of respondents perceive AI as a support tool that helps optimize time and automate operational tasks, while 45.3% believe it can transform complex administrative duties that previously required other workflows.

This opens up a massive opportunity: while technology frees up operational time, physical spaces become increasingly relevant as meeting hubs for what remains profoundly human — creativity, strategy, and collaboration.

Expectations: Holistic Experiences

In parallel, we are also witnessing a profound shift in what people expect from an organization. Today, talent evaluates their work experience holistically. Compensation remains important, but aspects such as well-being, professional development, and flexibility carry increasing weight in retention decisions.

According to the study, 97% of professionals consider corporate benefits a critical factor when deciding to stay with a company. Top priorities include holistic health, training and development, and flexible working arrangements.

This confirms that the employee experience no longer begins and ends with an employment contract. It is built every single day through the culture, tools, and spaces a company offers.

At WeWork, we have observed that the organizations best prepared for this new era are those that understand that flexibility does not mean a lack of structure, but rather the capacity to adapt.

Flexible models allow companies to respond more swiftly, bring workspaces closer to talent, and build ecosystems where different generations, industries, and profiles can coexist.

The next decade of work will not be defined by mandating days in the office or replicating models of the past. It will be defined by companies capable of designing human-centric solutions, where technology, space, and culture work seamlessly together.