The corporate world was at the brink of disruption as the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes in our day-to-day life. Although organizations have seen significant transformations in the corporate culture, the pandemic has further amplified the future of modern businesses. We’re talking about the shift to remote work, flexible schedules, and the newfound focus on employee experience.
In the first few months of 2020, companies went on a sudden shift to remote work. Employees were forced to leave the corporate space in exchange for working from home to protect themselves from widespread threats posed by COVID-19.
More than a year later, companies are planning to embark on a new work setup called hybrid working. This means companies will offer employees flexibility in where and when they want to work. Embracing the hybrid model isn’t easy though, companies have to brainstorm the specifics of how to employ a permanent mix of on-site and remote working.
When it comes to changes in corporate culture, companies are scrambling for solutions to make things work for them. Developing company culture is possible through mentorship and business coaching. This team of professionals provides training and support to organizations by teaching them a new system that can significantly impact the fiscal performance of the company.
With remote work mandates gradually ease in most organizations, it’s important to know your options to make working a little less complicated for your employees. In this article, we’ll be talking about the hybrid work policy and its implications on employee experience and overall organizational performance.
What is hybrid work?
In general, hybrid work is a business model that merges in-office and remote work, allowing flexibility in employees’ work preferences. Instead of confining work-related duties in a traditional office environment, employees have the freedom to create flexible work schedules that work for them. This means they can choose between working at a physical office or the comfort of their homes.
Hybrid working has a few similarities with the remote work setup, the only difference is it’s not fully remote. While companies can still retain their office spaces, employees can use them in other manners different from the traditional work setup.
Companies adopting the hybrid work model may expect changes in the way employees use physical office spaces. Instead of using the full eight-hour workday, office spaces are dedicated to collaborative initiatives and meetings with clients and team members. These may include formal presentations, team-building activities, introduction of new projects, or other tasks that require bringing employees in one place for face-to-face interaction.
Benefits of hybrid work
Adopting hybrid work offers several advantages to companies in terms of employee productivity and collaboration opportunities. Attaining work-life balance is more possible with hybrid work by giving employees the flexibility on how, where, and when they want to work. This enhanced autonomy allows employees to find the best work technique suitable for their current needs. It can also result in lower staff turnover, increased employee happiness, and a highly driven workforce.
Another obvious benefit of hybrid work is the reduction of overhead costs for businesses. Since employees don’t have to come to work every day, this can result in lower overhead costs in terms of electricity, water, and other utility expenses.
Hybrid working can also lead to employee satisfaction by giving them the freedom to manage their own tasks. In this case, if employees are satisfied with the corporate culture, companies can save more on reducing staff turnover and other expenses associated with finding a suitable candidate for the job. Satisfied employees are also more productive, which can lead to high-quality work for clients and increased profits for the company.
Adopting the hybrid work model
There are plenty of ways to adopt the hybrid work model for any organization. You just need the right technology, procedures, and employees. Before introducing this new work model, it’s important to assess the different needs of your employees. From there, you can apply adjustments to the work model. It can also motivate them to do their best by allowing them to stay involved.
Hybrid work is even more possible if you invest in the right technology and communication tools. These include project management tools, a unified communications platform, and highly secured physical hardware to prevent data breaches and hacking.
In the post-pandemic world, experimenting with company culture can go a long way in making things work for the employees and business leaders. Despite the disruptions in everyday life, companies should invest in opportunities that cater to the needs of employees. These small changes can lead to better results in terms of productivity and better work-life balance.
