Why hybrid work is more than just a trend and is here to stay

And it’s not just a trend that will disappear after a while. Here are just a few ways it could transform the way we work:

• It helps ensure business continuity in the midst of any disruption: Only 12% of companies felt highly prepared for the pandemic, meaning 88% of companies struggled to adapt to it and survive. This awakens us to the fact that we need to be more agile and flexible. A hybrid workforce drives business continuity and resilience. It lets you work anywhere, anytime. This allows business operations to continue with minimal disruptions. When you make the switch to a hybrid model, it also makes it easier to adapt to digital transformations. And it creates an agile culture where you’re more equipped to respond well if a crisis hits.

• It offers employees the most flexibility so they can work the way that best suits them: It gives them a rare opportunity to combine their on- and offsite work according to what they and their employers find best. And anyone can come into the office whenever they need to get documents or have meetings that are better in-person. More flexible options also means more job opportunities for some, such as those who can’t leave their house as often.

• It increases employee productivity: 48% of workers feel more productive working remotely, while 52% felt more productive working onsite. The hybrid model is the one model that lets employees work in whatever setting helps maximize their productivity. For example, those who have a distracting atmosphere at home can work in the office, and those who find they’re more focused at home can work remotely. And employee productivity drives profits. For example, almost three-fifths of business leaders in the UK believe hybrid work is more profitable.

• It raises employee satisfaction: Their increased productivity stems partly from their ability to work from home or in the office at-will. This gives them the freedom to work how and where they want, which motivates and encourages them to work. Employees in a hybrid workplace are more satisfied than those working exclusively at home or onsite. And of course, they would be. It gives them more time to be with their family and lessens their commute time. Employee satisfaction is also very important since 64% of employees are considering leaving their jobs. The flexibility and freedom the hybrid model offers could help decrease turnover rates and prevent the loss of valuable employees.

The Growth and Future of Hybrid Work

Needless to say, we’ve never had to implement remote work as quickly as we did in 2020. And since the technology is fairly new, it naturally came with certain challenges.

For example, employees have become more siloed and are experiencing digital fatigue from spending hours in front of a computer. It’s also harder to develop a company culture or for new hires to be integrated through social experiences.

But the hybrid model shows immense potential for growth. That’s why Google believes its future is in hybrid work and plans to have around 60% of their employees spend some time on- and offsite. 

And hybrid work can solve the issues that come with exclusively remote work.

Here’s how hybrid work can grow in the future and make switching to it completely worthwhile in the long-run:

• Employees will have more in-person time together and a better online company culture: Whenever they’re missing face-to-face interaction or simply need a change of scenery, they can go into the office. The growth of unified communications as a service (UCaaS) also encourages and promotes company culture online. For example, Zoom saw a 169% revenue increase. UCaaS platforms like Zoom will continue to let workers meet and interact with each other at the click of a button. So even when you’re at home, you won’t miss out on sharing social moments with your colleagues.

• Apps used to record employee schedules and bookings will improve productivity and collaboration: An enterprise app lets teams record this information all in one place. This makes it easier to have better collaboration between colleagues. And it helps workers plan their schedules so they can make the most of the days when they come into the office.

• IoT devices can help ensure employee safety: We can use IoT sensors to limit building occupancy by counting the number of people in it. They can even identify which desks need sanitization based on how much they’ve been used. 
• With optimized office spaces and the help of AI, efficiency will be increased: With less employees working onsite, employers will have to optimize their office spaces. Hot-desking, the practice of allocating office desks and rooms on an as-need basis, will likely become a more common practice. And this process can be automated for efficiency using AI-driven enterprise solutions. For example, self-service workplace apps will let workers automatically book a desk or meeting room and even customize their workspace according to their needs.

What Are the Different Models of Hybrid Work?

One of the problems of the remote work model is that it saw varying degrees of success in different industries and roles. Some businesses adapted to it more quickly, while others experienced growing pains.

But the benefit of hybrid work is that it’s flexible. So you can choose a model that fits your industry-specific needs. Read on to find the hybrid work models that’s right for you.

• The at-will model: This model lets employees choose which work arrangement suits them best on a given day. It’s especially useful when they need to come into the office to meet someone or avoid distractions at home, such as loud construction. Some companies have already set up a process where employees can place a request to WFO – work from the office. This ensures that employees will be able to socially distance themselves from each other.

• The split-week model: This model is the most widespread one and is used by large companies like Google. It splits the week between 2-3 days working from home and 2-3 days working onsite. This provides a structure where companies can split the week between their different departments. For example, the marketing team can come in to collaborate with each other on Mondays and Wednesdays. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays, customer support can come into the office. This model also helps managers stay in touch with each team. And it lets them have regular in-person meetings.

• Week by week: The third model involves having employees alternate between WFH and WFO each week. This alternative is beneficial for when large teams need to use the office space at the same time. So they can spend the week meeting to discuss reviews, deadlines, and updates.