Strike & hybrid work: how companies stay agile when mobility comes to a halt

11-12-2025 12:29

The three-day strike from 24 to 26 November once again revealed how dependent Belgian organizations are on mobility. Trains stopped, buses ran on a limited schedule, and many employees simply could not get to the office.

For many companies, this raises the same questions every time: How do we keep operations running? How do we continue to communicate internally and externally? And how do we ensure collaboration doesn’t slow down, even when a large part of the country is at a standstill?

Hybrid work has provided an answer for years, but not all organizations are equally prepared. The recent strikes show once again the gap between companies that can adapt quickly and those that mainly hope the disruption will pass quickly.

Hybrid work environments are truly tested in times of crisis

During a normal workweek, minor technical issues may go unnoticed. But when a strike suddenly keeps thousands of employees at home, the digital workplace is put to the test.

Organizations quickly see where the friction points are:

• meetings too heavy for the connection,
• meeting rooms difficult to control remotely,
• employees struggling to switch between home and office,
• fragmented internal communication.

Companies that have long invested in high-performing hybrid work environments (with stable AV systems, good videoconferencing, and clear workflows) mainly notice that continuity is maintained in these moments.

Not because they are “lucky,” but because their infrastructure is built for it.

Internal communication must become faster and more consistent

During a strike, everything revolves around information: Who can come to the office? Which services remain operational? What is happening differently than planned?

Email alone is not enough in these situations.

Organizations that use digital signage — in offices, production environments, or logistics hubs — can react much faster. Updates are centrally managed and immediately visible, with less risk of misunderstanding.

In mobility crises, this is not a luxury but a necessity to inform teams accurately and on time.

Agility is not a feature, but a combination of technology and work methods

The companies least affected by the strike are not necessarily those with the largest IT budgets. They are the organizations that have designed truly usable workplaces:

• meeting rooms that are easy to use both physically and in hybrid mode,
• employees experiencing the same environment at home and in the office,
• intuitive AV technology, even when no support is present on-site,
• communication that is centralized and easy to distribute.

Agility is not a “tool” you install; it is a workplace built to keep functioning when circumstances change.

A predictable collaboration experience becomes a competitive advantage

Mobility issues are not going away. Strikes, traffic jams, extreme weather, international events… companies will increasingly be affected.

Organizations investing today in high-performing hybrid workplaces find that they:

• experience less productivity loss,
• have to improvise less,
• face less pressure on IT and facility teams,
• and most importantly: give employees the feeling they can work professionally, wherever they are.

This is not only efficient — it builds trust among teams and clients.

Why this is relevant now

The recent strikes were not a surprise, but they once again served as a stress test for Belgian businesses. They clearly show that hybrid work is no longer a backup plan, but a structural component of how modern organizations operate.

Companies that anticipate this understand that it is not a cost, but a buffer against disruption.

Are you ready to keep your organization agile, even when mobility stops?
Contact us at 015 287 487.