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The Hybrid workplace model: Pros and Cons

Workplace Mar 05 2021

Workplace transformation is a slow organic process, but COVID accelerated that. In March last year, the pandemic struck the world and changed everything. When the lockdown started, everybody had to work from home and experiment with a whole new work arrangement. Almost overnight, millions of people around the world traded their daily commute for a short walk to the kitchen. Many employees have been working from home for more than a year and have grown accustomed to new methods of communication, motivation, and collaboration. But will it be the same in the future?

 

Now, after a year, the restrictions have been eased and many organizations have opened their offices. But the general consensus among the employees about returning to work varies drastically. Whilst some workers are happy to continue working from home, some are equally as desperate to return to the office. Also, the nature of some organizations' work just doesn't allow for a 100% remote work policy! Looking at the post-COVID future, some organizations are already considering a new working model that blends remote work with in-office hours – Hybrid Workplace Model.

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What is a Hybrid workplace?


The Hybrid Workplace Model supports both working from the office and remote working.  Hybrid models can also be defined as the amalgamation of virtual and physical offices. Hybrid work includes increased freedom and autonomy around when to work, and where. It generally allows employees the opportunity to choose and decide based on their schedule, rather than structuring workaround fixed hours logged into an office.  For organizations, it means they can leverage some of the benefits of remote working and ensure the safety of their workers simultaneously.


In the Hybrid model, organizations will be a blend of three groups based on role segregation:


  • Office Employees - Roles of this group, and in some cases entire office would require them to work primarily from the office.

  • Hybrid Employees – This is a group where the work does not mandate them to work from the office. They can work from anywhere and when needed they can work from the office as well.

  • Remote Employees – Similar to the Hybrid group, they can work from anywhere and actually prefer not to come to the office. Now, many roles are being permanently designated as remote work


A typical hybrid workplace, includes office staff, while others are free to come and go as they please, within reason. For some, it could be four days in the office, and one-day remote. Generally speaking, the most common option is a split spread over a week or two-week schedule. Employees tend to prefer a roughly 50/50 split between the office and remote work.

 

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Pros of a hybrid workplace


More emphasis on productivity


In a traditional office environment, managers want to see that everyone present is at their desk, working their allocated hours. Now, with employees working remotely, it becomes important to give them responsibility for the projects, and have a clear understanding of how much they can realistically achieve in a day. The focus for management becomes improving productivity than the "hours inputted" kind of view.


Work-life balance


A hybrid workplace prioritizes the employee and encourages a stronger work-life balance. It additionally can help ease anxiety employees may have relating to returning to a public workspace, and using public transit for the daily commute. The lack of a commute provides more time for family, hobbies, and exercise. 


Access to more talent


It allows companies to expand their hiring criteria and attract employees from different places and backgrounds. This opens up the company to workers who might not otherwise have been able to apply, diversifying the workforce and bringing in the best talent. 


Cost Savings


Not only can a hybrid model lead to rental cost savings, but also fewer office supplies.  A part of the money saved in this can be utilized in new technologies, premium furniture, and creating a more employee-centric workplace.

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Cons of a hybrid workplace


Not for everyone


Hybrid working isn't for everyone. Some industries and roles aren't suited to hybrid working. Whether that's because there's little work that can be done offsite, or because set hours are required, hybrid may not be the right choice.


Reduced client experience


In many businesses, there's a certain level of necessity for client interactions. Without this, you might miss important opportunities. There's also the potential for a lot more scheduling conflicts. While technology can help mitigate this problem, it takes time to transition to new standardized procedures smoothly.


Hampering team culture


Sometimes in-office workers can also perceive their remote colleagues not to be working as hard and using office hours for other work. On the other hand, remote workers might see their office co-workers as having better advancement opportunities, since managers see them daily. Mental Division can also arise from the perceptions in the teams.

 

Lack of an ideal workspace


Not everyone is happy about working from home. Work-life integration comes with its unique set of challenges. Lack of a dedicated space and constant distractions can all contribute to frustrating working environments. For some team members, the office is the best place for both focussed work and collaboration.

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Conclusion


Hybrid work may as well be the future of work. But for the hybrid workplace to be successful, it must be well planned and executed, and not treated as a novel experiment. The most positive outcome of implementing hybrid workplaces is that it will drastically improve employee engagement and satisfaction. As companies compete for the best talent, those who are truly able to provide the best employee-centric Hybrid workplace will reap the benefits.