What Shapes Hybrid Work Preferences and Behaviors in Agile Software Engineering?

Hybrid work has become the norm post pandemic, yet organizing it effectively in agile software engineering requires understanding how individual and contextual factors shape preferences and behaviors. This study surveyed 65 agile practitioners to explore these influences. Respondents generally preferred flexible office attendance policies, but not full-time remote work. Larger teams expressed interest in agreed on presence at the office, while small or medium size teams leaned slightly more toward individual choice. Social interaction was a strong reason to come to the office, and most respondents viewed in-person meetings as highly beneficial for social and problem-solving activities. In virtual meetings, camera use was guided mainly by social presence and visibility, while multitasking activities were mostly meeting-supportive and work related, with managers and agile leaders reporting slightly higher levels of multitasking and significantly higher levels of camera use.