In the new era of work, the term “hybrid” is sometimes misrepresented to mean either HQ or the home office. This misappropriation misses the point (and the beauty) of the hybrid work movement. People want flexibility around not just how, but where they work. They want true workplace choice, in other words. And, increasingly, when it comes to choosing between work-from-home (WFH) and working from the office, the choice more workers are making – at least part of the time – is none of the above. For at least a few days of the week, they’re opting for a creative alternative that offers the best of both worlds, the benefits of a full-service office and proximity to home.

What, exactly, are these Goldilocks work environments? They’re called third places and, at a time when worker health and happiness has never mattered more, they might just have an essential role to play in your organization’s hybrid workplace strategy.