Whether you’re a senior manager
or part of the next generation of superstars just starting in out the job market, you’ll be aware that the debate is still raging over whether hybrid working is here to stay.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to adopt remote work policies, and many employees found that they enjoyed the flexibility and productivity benefits of working from home. As a result, there has been a growing trend towards hybrid work, which combines remote work with some in-office work.
When it comes to hybrid working, there are many benefits. For example, for employees, it can improve their work-life balance, reduce stress, and increase productivity. For businesses, it can reduce the costs associated with office space and help attract and retain top talent.
A recent survey by PwC found that 70% of employees want to work in a hybrid model in the future. And a study by Stanford University found that hybrid workers are more productive than those who work exclusively from home or in the office.
But what does this mean for the future of work? Does this mean the office is ‘dead’? Here, we’ll explore the hybrid working challenges, hybrid working post-Covid, the best hybrid working approach and ultimately if hybrid working is here to stay!
What is hybrid working?
Hybrid working is a new working model where employees split their time between working in an office or specific business location, and then a specific amount of time spent elsewhere. The exact definition varies between employees and employers with different hybrid working challenges depending on the adopted hybrid working approach.
Some professionals might be in an office a couple of days a week or every other day. Other businesses may require only occasional face-to-face time. Rather than operating an office, they might hire a space for quarterly company meetings. Some companies have given up their offices in favour of a totally remote workforce! The future of hybrid working is likely to change and evolve as we continue to adapt to the new normal created by the pandemic.
Which companies are leading the hybrid working way?
With many of the most respected global companies implementing this approach, hybrid working is likely here to stay. These are just a few of the organisations that are leading the way:
Dropbox – the file hosting service, made a permanent shift during the pandemic, allowing employees to work from home and hold team meetings in the office.
Location-technology firm TomTom opted for employee flexibility, rebranding offices as hosting centres to cater for face-to-face meetings and events.
What are the hybrid working challenges
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Remote working usually means less face-to-face human interaction as it leads to more time spent at home and not with colleagues.
We know that mental health can be adversely impacted without human interaction – in fact, if you avoid human contact, this can increase stress and any feelings of isolation or disconnection. This is a hybrid working challenge employers and employees will need to consider.
ESSENTIAL TIP:
Regular team meetings via video can ensure teams feel connected and aligned with their objectives. Companies should use other forms of technology such as Slack to keep everyone engaged. As an organisation, you can also schedule face-to-face meetings and events.
Team building
When hybrid working there can be a challenge associated with digital team building. It’s much easier for a sense of a team to be instilled among colleagues when they’re working in the same location.
This is particularly true for new hires, the lack of any face-to-face contact time can make it hard for them to feel as if they are part of a team or working towards the same business aims. As part of their hybrid working approach, many companies use different communication tools to engage with staff, but this can sometimes feel disjointed when compared with in-person communication.
ESSENTIAL TIP:
Many of the same things organisations do in-person need to be replicated in a virtual manner. For example, you could schedule virtual water cooler moments or budget for in-person meetings.
When onboarding staff, you can assign them a current member of staff to act as their advocate or mentor. Any work culture will be challenging if we don’t know how to fit in so you need to remember, whether it’s remote, in-office, or hybrid work, employees need guidance and support.
Any work culture will be challenging if we don’t know how to fit in so you need to remember, whether it’s remote, in-office, or hybrid work, employees need guidance and support.
Any work culture will be challenging if we don’t know how to fit in so you need to remember, whether it’s remote, in-office, or hybrid work, employees need guidance and support.
Overall, the evidence suggests that hybrid work is here to stay. It offers many benefits for both employees and businesses, and it is a flexible and adaptable model that can be tailored to the needs of different organisations and every individual. As the world of work continues to evolve, hybrid work is likely to become even more popular in the years to come.
