The Future Of Hybrid Work Models For Businesses
Publié le 22 August 2022
In order to recruit the best top candidates and retain the best employees, organizations need to learn more about the future of hybrid work models for businesses of all types.
The past couple of years has changed the way businesses run their operations and workplace. Left with limited choices but to adapt, organizations adopted new methods and technology that would allow employees more flexibility with work options.
During the start of the pandemic, transitioning to a hybrid work model became a necessity for survival for different onsite work style companies. Since then, many of these companies have come to realize the many advantages of adopting hybrid work models.
A MarketWatch study discovered around 69% of companies use a flexible work model. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, 66% of employers worldwide are redesigning their workplaces to make them suited for hybrid work.
So what is the future of work? A number of forward-thinking companies have already announced adopting remote, hybrid and work-from-home setups permanently. Nevertheless, there are still many employers that are hesitant about the perceived possible drawbacks of this hybrid work model.
By taking a closer look at the future of hybrid work models for businesses, it allows organizations to examine possible options and decide which is best for their workplace. With the right hybrid work model for businesses, it is possible for organizations to continue to grow and succeed without any loss of quality or productivity.
Pre-Pandemic Workplace
Today, many are convinced that the pre-pandemic workplace isn’t going to be as effective anymore. In one survey before the pandemic happened, 85% of employees were not satisfied with their existing office environment. Others relate that the limitations of this work model had a negative affect on their mental well-being.
Source: Vantage Circle
In a pre-pandemic workplace, a typical setup means each person is only allotted a 5 x 2 square meter cubicle, many realized that the pre-pandemic work arrangements are not exactly ideal for collaboration, communication or happiness.
As employees started working remotely, people enjoyed having the increased flexibility, control and balance, all of which had a positive effect on their well-being and allowed more room to produce their best work. As businesses began to look at options for returning to the workplace and a number of employees expressed their preference, it became clear that the benefits of remote work even extended to the retention of top employees.
Different Hybrid Work Models For Businesses
Before taking a deep dive into the future of hybrid work models for businesses, let’s first define what a hybrid or flexible work model is.
A hybrid work model allows employees the freedom and flexibility to choose to work wherever and however they are most productive.
Before deciding to choose the right variation for your workplace, businesses need to consider three groups of employees that will participate in a hybrid workplace. You have team members who will work onsite, those who will work both remote and onsite, and those who are working remotely full time.
Businesses usually examine the percentage of the current workforce doing remote work versus those who will have to go to the workplace.
I. No-office Hybrid Model
A no-office hybrid model is a setup wherein employees don’t have a physical workplace to go to and employees work remotely full time.
Instead of renting an entire office, workers may be given a stipend to meet in person whether in a coffee shop or a rented office or co-working space for the day. This allows for opportunities for in-person bonding and collaboration.
II. Team-split Hybrid Model
Next is the team-split hybrid model. This setup is more common among bigger organizations that constitute different departments. Some hybrid teams are required to report in the office while others can work remotely full-time. This can help satisfy employees willing to work in the office, and those who prefer the benefits of remote work.
III. Fully Flexible Hybrid Work
And lastly, there’s the fully flexible hybrid work model. Here, workers get to choose where to work. And at times, even choose at what time of the day they work.
The most common requirement for this type of work is a fast and reliable internet connection and regular check-ins. This option is more commonly used by freelancers such as software developers like Python programmers and social media managers who are not employed full-time by the company.
In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing the right type of hybrid work model. But as a rule of thumb, choose a variation that matches the business’ goals, operations, and company culture.
6 Benefits Of The Hybrid Work Model
There are many benefits to hybrid work, especially when compared to the traditional 9-to-5 setup. Here are some of the benefits enjoyed by both businesses and employees.
1. More Employees Stay In Companies That Offer A Hybrid Work Setup
One of the main reasons why companies want to keep a hybrid work setup even after the pandemic is because employees want to stay longer in companies that offer a partial or a full-time remote work setup.
Source: LinkedIn
Businesses will often need to offer additional perks and a salary increase just to convince employees to continue working for them.
According to a study, companies see a 12% reduction in turnover just by letting employees do at least some remote work. In addition to this, 54% of employees are willing to leave their current job for another company that offers a more flexible work model, especially if it allows remote work. This indicates that the future of hybrid work models for businesses will depend on the ability to meet employee expectations.
2. Better Mental Health For Employees
With uncertainties brought about by the COVID19 pandemic, mental health is now considered on the top of many workers’ priority lists.
The pandemic not only increased the demand for mental health services but also highlighted the reality that ineffective and poorly organized workplaces are a major source of stress among working professionals.
The good news is that a hybrid work model allows workers to have more flexibility and maximize their energy and resources. It gets rid of long commutes and the travel expenses that come with it. As a result, it provides a better work-life balance for employees, potentially improving their mental health.
3. Positive Economic Impact On Both Business And Employees
One of the biggest reasons why hybrid work models are now popular is because of their economic impact that favors both workers and employers.
Companies that have adopted a hybrid workplace can save around $11,000 yearly. Savings come from the increased productivity of employees, reduced absences, and decreased overhead expenses such as rent and utilities cost for workplaces. This setup allows businesses to forego large offices and settle for smaller and cheaper workspaces when necessary.
4. Increased Mobility
Mobility is something that has attracted a lot of individuals to stick with remote work. This is also the reason why a lot of workers are shifting careers, choosing those that allow them to have more time for travel. Popular online work during the pandemic includes virtual assistants in charge of chat support, social media marketing, and content like blog reviews on medical alert solutions.
Short-term rentals saw more travelers staying longer periods on properties for rent on its platform during the pandemic. That’s because, since the start of the pandemic, “workations” became part of the new normal.
Workation is simply a combination of both work and vacation. Thanks to remote work, proximity to the office is no longer that important. With technologies such as Zoom and Slack and other apps becoming a staple in workplaces for employee engagement and communication, the hybrid workforce can now enjoy vacations while staying productive.
5. Bigger Pool Of Talents For Businesses
Companies that run a hybrid work setup can also enjoy a broader selection of talent. Businesses that allow remote work can potentially hire workers even from other parts of the world, based on their skills and credentials and not on geographic proximity.
For companies that will require employees to report to the office now and then, a hybrid work model can still broaden their options.
6. Easier To Assess Worker Productivity
In a hybrid workplace, it’s common to use technologies that can evaluate an employee’s activity during working hours, solutions for project management, or tools for managing sales.
Building The Ideal Hybrid Workplace
Building the best hybrid workplace for employees can be a bit tricky. 61% would like to work in the comforts of their home for two to three days in a workweek and then report to the office for the remaining days. On the other hand, 27% wanted to work remotely the entire time. And interestingly, 18% wanted to return to the office full time.
Given different preferences in work setups, the future of hybrid work models for businesses depends on their ability to find the right balance. An ideal hybrid workplace should cater to both in-person and digital work, accommodating both single projects and group work.
The HR department plays an important role for a company to support a hybrid work environment. They must work with company leaders and employees in order to draft policies that will be followed by both workers and the company to make hybrid work run smoothly. They will also need to examine the effectiveness of hybrid work models that have been put in place, respond to feedback from managers and employees, and work to make actionable changes to ensure that their needs are being met.
Pitfalls Of The Hybrid Work Model
Now, hybrid workplaces aren’t perfect. Businesses should be aware of the complications brought by this type of setup. A solution to this problem is by having clear guidelines and training manuals, especially for newly-hired remote workers.
Next, as fewer people have to go onsite, businesses no longer rent large workspaces. However, businesses need to avoid overcrowding on days when workers choose to work onsite. To avoid this situation, it is equally important to arrange a hybrid work schedule and limit the number of people in the workspace.
Another common problem faced by businesses in a hybrid workplace is poor communication. Unlike in a traditional workplace where workers collaborate in close proximity, hybrid work requires the use of technology to maintain good communication. And unfortunately, there are instances when lines are blurred between working and non-working hours.
No Generic Approach To Hybrid Work
Businesses seeking to adopt a hybrid workplace should assess their organization, culture, and operations carefully.
Close communication with team members will be beneficial in determining which work model or hybrid schedule works. Some team members might be forced to follow the full remote setup when they actually prefer to work onsite when they have no conducive space for work in their homes.
What works for one company won’t always work for others. While some businesses can operate without a physical office, others will still have to invest in an office space. Companies must remain adaptive and open to change in order to retain employees. If employees feel that their needs are no longer being served by a business model, they are far more likely to consider other employment opportunities.
Conclusion
Whether you’re in favor or against a hybrid workplace, this setup is here to stay.
The challenge is finding the sweet spot that works for everyone. Though it is not exactly simple to implement, it is something that should be considered even after the pandemic. Weigh out the pros and cons and re-evaluate your processes to see areas where you can optimize to allow for more work schedule flexibility.
By doing this, you can take advantage of the benefits offered by the future hybrid work models for businesses, leading to continued success and satisfied employees.
