As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, it's difficult to determine when it's fully safe to return to the office again. Since 2020, organizations such as Hubspot, Apple, Microsoft, and Slack have embraced the new normal of the hybrid workspace.
What is a hybrid, and why has the word become so popular? Employees that engage in hybrid work can work both onsite and remotely. Hybrid employment has grown increasingly acceptable across employers, altering how their companies run.
Let's take a look at the benefits of hybrid workers employees and their companies are:
Employees are more productive because of the flexibility of controlling their work schedules. Employees can avoid becoming burned out if their employer prioritizes work-life balance. Accenture surveyed 9,326 employees on the future of work, and 83% of workers prefer a hybrid model. Employees want the best of both worlds and more prefer a hybrid or remote model over working entirely in the office.
Employee's Ideal Work Environment
(PWC, 2021)
It's a win-win for both the employer and the employees. Companies don't have to invest in a bigger space because less office space is needed. Employees can save on commuting because they can work in the comfort of their homes (Research completed by Harvard and Stanford University).
Instead of hiring people from a specific area, your company can access a wider talent pool. A bigger pool means you can find more talented people and increase productivity levels at work.
Not sure where to start? We have some tips on how to start adopting the hybrid work model.
Although not everyone's in the office anymore, you must keep up the great work culture!
In Accenture's study, people are driven to work from home because it makes them feel safer. For those who don't always show up in the office, you can encourage employees to participate in virtual coffee chats or team-building activities. Snack Nation has created 57 virtual team-building activities to boost employee morale.
What drives people to want to be remote?
Flexible schedules, not having to commute, and higher productivity are reasons why employees might prefer to continue working remotely even after lockdowns.
(Accenture, 2021)
Be Transparent with your Employees It's important to be transparent with your employees and make sure they're up to date with the work policy. Companies should get input from their employees before enforcing a hybrid work model. This can be done through surveys or meetings. Involving employees in the process can motivate them to work harder and create a better work environment.
Don't forget to collect continuous feedback, so your company can thrive.
It's crucial to establish office schedules and communication channels. Companies have been using Slack and Team's polling system to understand when people are coming to the office. But the best way is to use a tool that provides you with a recommendation for which date to come in based on your needs and preferences.
Check out Litespace’s hybrid scheduling solution if this interests you.
To learn more, visit Litespace, which assists businesses in transitioning to a hybrid workspace by providing an all-in-one platform that enables hybrid scheduling, easy hybrid onboarding, and space optimization.
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Hassan has always been passionate about startups and has 5+ years in building products and creating designs. He is thrilled to share lessons learned from building companies' culture.
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