How can your business benefit from a hybrid work model?
In 2020, teams and companies across the globe quickly switched to remote work environments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as the pandemic came to an end, many companies requested their employees to return to the office.
The result?
97% of employees stated that they don’t want to return to the office full-time. In fact, only 3% of employees and entrepreneurs said they want to work full time at a physical office.
Consequently, many businesses had to find a middle ground and introduced a hybrid remote working model.
Hybrid work models are flexible work environments that combine remote and in-office work. It gives employees the flexibility and autonomy to choose where they work.
When done right, a hybrid work environment can benefit your company in many ways.
Here are three benefits of hybrid workplace models:
Benefits of Hybrid Work Model
1. Improved Employee Satisfaction and Increased Productivity
Hybrid work models give employees more flexibility and autonomy – they can choose to work in the workspace that boosts their individual productivity and happiness. This way, employees who prefer working in a busy office environment can do just that, while employees who thrive in quieter workspaces can work from home.
Giving employees autonomy can also boost employee satisfaction. If you get your employees the freedom to choose how, when, and where they work, your employee satisfaction scores will skyrocket.
You should also give autonomy to employees who have chosen to return to in-office work. Let them know you trust that they’ll get the work done – without micromanaging them.
2. More Opportunities for Continuous Learning
Showing your employees you care about their development and career by giving them continual learning and growth opportunities.
This is crucial since 94% of employees would stay longer at a company that invested in their learning and development.
Managers and leaders also need to understand that learning doesn’t only happen in formal training courses. Your employees can learn essential life and business skills through workshops, webinars, lunch and learns,” and more.
You should also encourage managers to hop on one-one-calls with employees to learn about their goals and interests. This way, you can provide support and encouragement.
3. Better Outcomes for Improved Mental Health
A hybrid working model can help employees improve their work-life balance since every employee can fit their work and life together in a way that suits them. For example, if an employee has a stressful morning and can’t make it to the office on a certain day, they can choose to work from home and still get all their tasks done without the unnecessary stress of commuting.
For remote employees, ensure they establish clear boundaries between their home and work lives. This helps reduce stress and prevents employee burnout. Fully remote employees also lack human interaction. As a result, it’s crucial to organize some form of face-to-face team building activity once in a while.
If you want to ensure your company and its employees transition smoothly to a hybrid workplace environment, visit the Corporate Class website today.
We offer tailor-made workshops that’ll teach your leaders and teams the importance of resilience and perseverance in times of uncertainty. During our workshops, your team will learn important life and business skills that will help them adapt to change while remaining productive and deal with the unique stressors posed by hybrid work environments.
Challenges of Hybrid Workplace
1. Limited Interpersonal Relationships:
In a hybrid workplace, building and sustaining connections can be challenging. A distributed workforce and reduced in-person interactions may lead to weaker interpersonal relationships. Organizations must prioritize a robust hybrid work model to strengthen employee connections.
2. Overworking and Burnout:
A culture of overworking may infiltrate a hybrid workplace model. Remote workers might extend working hours to dispel perceptions of slacking off. It is crucial for companies to educate employees about overworking and its negative impact on work tasks and productivity.
3. Misalignment and Poor Communication:
Misalignment and communication challenges may arise between on-site and remote employees. Balancing autonomy and collaboration is critical in a hybrid working arrangement. Promoting effective communication and collaboration practices is among the best practices for navigating hybrid work challenges.
4. Dilution of Company Culture:
Company culture may be perceived differently among a dispersed workforce. The challenge lies in maintaining and strengthening culture and core values equally. Companies may need to revisit philosophies and policies surrounding culture in a hybrid model, addressing both benefits and challenges.
5. Heightened Cybersecurity Risks:
Working outside the office introduces cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The use of personal computers or unsecured networks poses risks to employees working on-site and remotely. Organizations must confirm remote employees adhere to security standards to prevent burnout and ensure work processes are secure.
6. Coordination and Resource Management:
Better coordination of resources is required in home and on-site offices. Home offices must function optimally to maximize personal productivity, and on-site offices and conference rooms should be remote-capable collaboration stations. This aspect is crucial for successful hybrid arrangements and better work-life balance.
7. Organizational Culture and Relationships:
Cultivating organizational culture is challenging in a fully remote environment. Teamwork and relationships face new challenges with intermittent remote work. Hybrid work presents opportunities for collaboration but requires extensive coordination, emphasizing the importance of choosing the work model that aligns with the landscape of hybrid work.
In navigating these challenges, organizations can implement best practices to ensure successful hybrid arrangements, fostering a positive work-life balance, and maintaining a thriving work culture among their employees, ultimately leading to higher job satisfaction and improved productivity.
Empower your leadership with Corporate Class Inc.’s Leadership Presence Training Programs. Contact us today to equip leaders with the benefits of the hybrid work model. Elevate your workplace with us!