Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic urged many employers and employees to work remotely to minimize the spread of the virus. Remote working arrangements like work-from-home and hybrid setups were the norm for many companies to continue work operations while abiding by quarantine and social distancing protocols.
Table of Content
Both work models have pros and cons, but hybrid work models have changed our perspective of work. It's flexible and modern, allowing us to have that work-life balance everybody talks about. But like any other work arrangement, hybrid work isn't a one-size-fits-all arrangement; it comes in different forms for various businesses and types of employees.
This article will guide you on everything about hybrid work and how it can work for your company.
What is a Hybrid Work Model?
The hybrid working model is a location-flexible work arrangement that lets employees combine onsite and off-site work as they see fit. The lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns brought about feelings of isolation and lack of community among remote-work employees. Hybrid work was one of the solutions that businesses developed to solve this problem.
Many employees like this work setup's variation in flexibility and work schedules. It allows employees to pick how and where they work and offers the autonomy to craft their work week to suit their personal schedule and the company's policies.
How do Employees Feel About Hybrid Work?
Hybrid work is generally getting positive feedback among employees globally. According to Accenture, roughly four out of five employees (83%) prefer a hybrid working environment. SurveyMonkey's research supports this, showing that almost two out of three (65%) employees state the hybrid work model is their ideal way of working.
Tech giant Microsoft conducted its own survey on where workers stand on hybrid work arrangements, reaching 30,000 employees from more than 31 countries. They found that 65% of employees like onsite scheduling with co-workers, and 70% like flexible working options.
One can gather that flexibility is an important and attractive feature of hybrid work. A Stanford study on around 2,500 US residents showed that 55% of workers desire flexible time between the office and home.
What are the Types of Hybrid Work Schedules?
A flexible work model like hybrid work means there are multiple ways to work in your company. Deciding on the best hybrid work schedule for you and your employees is crucial to an effective hybrid work setup.
- Hybrid at-will: Employees are allowed to choose which day/s to work in the office.
- Hybrid split-week: Your company will assign particular days for onsite and remote work, either by team or function.
- Hybrid manager-scheduling: The managers choose which day/s their respective teams work onsite.
- Hybrid mix: This combines hybrid at-will, split-week, and manager-scheduling work arrangements.
What are the Advantages of a Hybrid Work Model?
Hybrid work comes with pros and cons. Here are some advantages employees and companies saw as soon as they implemented a hybrid work model during the pandemic.
1. Employees can choose when and how to work
The office-first model requires employees to work between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The problem is that not every employee has the same body clock and energy level to be productive for those times. But a hybrid work model offers far more flexibility.
The office-first model requires employees to work between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The problem is that not every employee has the same body clock and energy level to be productive for those times. But a hybrid work model offers far more flexibility.
At the same time, employees can spend less time on low-value activities like commuting and spend most of their energy on high-value work like meetings with colleagues or submitting deliverables.
2. There is a better work-life balance
Employees with a flexible schedule can make time for other things in their personal lives, such as errands, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing other passion projects.
A McKinsey report showed that 87% of employees would take the opportunity to work flexibly if their employers offered it. After all, it's the main reason for wanting a hybrid work model. Another SurveyMonkey study reported that 85% of American workers who work with the hybrid arrangement demonstrate better work autonomy, which boosts their satisfaction in a company. This means that hybrid work culture can directly impact the key performance indicators of your company positively.
3. Employers can hire talent across the globe
A company can hire talent globally thanks to the remote working setup of a hybrid work model. Access to a bigger pool of talents allows you to have more specializations, giving your company a competitive edge and helping you move into various markets while keeping your employees productive around the clock, around the world.
4. Companies can save on real estate expenses
A company can hire talent globally thanks to the remote working setup of a hybrid work model. Access to a bigger pool of talents allows you to have more specializations, giving your company a competitive edge and helping you move into various markets while keeping your employees productive around the clock, around the world.
5. Companies can save on real estate expenses
Because people only work on selected days in the office, there's a lower need for office space and onsite supplies. A hybrid work model lets you see how much office space is needed to continue and lower real estate costs by 30%. The supposed budget for office space can be allotted to other aspects of the business.
What are the Disadvantages of a Hybrid Work Model?
Despite the good feedback about hybrid working, it still poses some challenges for some employers and employees, affecting overall work performance.
1. Cyber attacks are likely to happen
Online attacks and data breaches are bein today's digital landscape. Although remote work is convenient, it increases the opportunities for cybercriminals to hack into company networks to launch attacks.
Family members can also access the employee's devices, resulting in errors and a successful malware attack. Another problem is employees downloading free, potentially dangerous apps or connecting to unauthorized devices without the company's restrictions. These can jeopardize your business's cybersecurity.
Hence, onsite arrangements have the benefit of added security against cyber attacks and misuse of company devices.
2. Employees tend to disengage
It might be more difficult to forge bonds with your entire team, especially if they come to the workplace at different times of the week. People will sometimes miss seeing each other, and the chance to meet is rare, so onsite members could feel disengaged or closed off from members who work from home.
Invest in the right technology to avoid something like this from happening in your team. Have reliable software that keeps everybody in the loop for work developments and updates. This will also allow your employees to communicate with one another and get visibility on their onsite work schedule.
3. Employees may feel their bosses are micromanaging them
Some employees might feel like they're being watched over by their managers when working from home. This lack of trust or real-time supervision can affect employees' overall performance, compromise their relationships with their team members, and prevent growth.
If you want to allow freedom and flexibility for your workers, you need to be able to balance your management with the appropriate oversight, policies, and maintenance.
4. Not applicable to all industries
Hybrid work models don't always apply to every industry. Some organizations can function remotely, but others can't operate successfully if the workforce isn't onsite. These include nursing, teaching, and manufacturing.
The near impossibility of remote working arrangements for these industries may encourage job seekers to look for employment opportunities elsewhere. A report showed that the materials, utilities, and telecom services industries received the least amount of onsite traffic growth since 2021.
Conclusion
Like any other work model, the hybrid work setup has advantages and disadvantages for every company. But it's evident that this setup is here to stay. As a leader, it is your duty to make this arrangement work or risk losing your talents to other employers implementing hybrid work better.
Know your authority and limitations regarding remote working, and always consider your employees' needs and experiences in the organization.
