During the onset of the pandemic, most of us took up working from home. And it was hugely successful. Several surveys have shown that 95% of the people were more productive. Disruptions were at the minimum, and the overall work environment was comfortable.
However, remote work was not without challenges.
Most remote workers complained of feeling isolated and being cut off from their colleagues. The lack of social interactions was tough, and it impacted them. However, they were unwilling to return to the office as well. The fear of the virus was too much to discount.
Therefore, with the pandemic waning off, organizations decided to develop the perfect strategy. This one balances on-site and remote work, and it takes in the best of both worlds and creates a proportional work model. And this model is often recognized as the hybrid work environment.
Often deemed the future of work, 87% of employees feel that the hybrid work model is the way ahead. Organizations believe that they can maintain company culture and maintain employee safety with a hybrid workplace.
But what is this hybrid workplace? What are its benefits and drawbacks? Keep reading to find out more.
What is a Hybrid Workplace?
A hybrid workplace is a new work model that allows employees to divide their days between on-site and remote work. It mixes the existing work models to develop a reliable workplace. Now, a hybrid workplace can be divided into three categories. These include:
- The first category includes a hybrid model where certain employees work remotely, and most employees work from the office full time.
- The second category contains all employees coming to the office for certain days of the week and the rest they work from home.
- The third category is where employees choose whether to work from home or office.
Whichever model you choose, the onus of choice remains with the employees, and it gives them the flexibility to choose where and how they want to work.
Organizations rely on the hybrid setting because it emphasizes the employees, encourages a strong work-life balance, and helps ease their concerns about the pandemic.
People work better in a hybrid environment, and they can communicate better. The organization does not define work hours, but employees can choose one that matches their preferences. Research shows that employee experiences have become better owing to this work model.
The hybrid workplace model also helps companies manage their real estate. With employees scattered, companies can modify the office space to suit their needs. For instance, extra desks are being converted into conference rooms.
These points prove that the hybrid workplace has many advantages to offer. Let us look at the same.
3 Advantages of a Hybrid Workplace
It Reduces Real Estate Costs
With employees scattered across different locations, not everyone is present in the office at once. This opens up opportunities for the organizations to address real estate issues, which existed pre-pandemic.
The hybrid workplace can help companies save millions or real estate costs while being more flexible.
56% of the facilities managers believe that a hybrid work model will help them reduce office footprints. Since maintenance of buildings and other physical properties decrease, companies can cut down on additional costs like office rent, utilities, etc.
It Increases Employee Productivity
Most leaders were worried about productivity when they moved to a flexible workplace. However, research shows that 82% of executives believe that their employees were equally productive or more during the pandemic.
This means that a flexible work setting is a success. Since the hybrid work model gives employees the freedom to choose their work environment, productivity increased.
Employees working in the hybrid work model note significant psychological benefits. They have more control of their schedules, meaning they can work when they feel the most productive.
For instance, if an employee feels they work better at night, they can adjust their schedule to work then. This is the power of a hybrid workplace, and it boosts productivity.
It Provides a Greater Purpose
The purpose of an office can have different connotations for different people.
Most employers focus on providing a better environment for each employee present in the office. They try to achieve this by providing common space for client meetings, conducting training sessions, and improving cross-functional communications.
Creating a hybrid work model can provide more purpose to the employees without sacrificing company culture.
Now, let us look at the drawbacks of a hybrid workplace model.
3 Disadvantages of a Hybrid Workplace
Training Remote Employees
Adopting a hybrid work model is synonymous with deploying new software. However, it is essential to conduct employee training with the implementation of every new software.
In a hybrid workplace, conducting a training session can be challenging, especially with remote employees. The managers will have to schedule two separate training sessions and then provide continuous support in case of challenges.
This can be difficult for the managers, and they will need to adopt the right solutions and effectively conduct both virtual and in-person training to avoid such situations.
Employees May Feel Burned Out
In fear of being slacked off, your remote employees may end up working more than required. They may work outside the prescribed working hours, and this may lead to causing burnout amongst the employees.
Overcompensation might lead to work-related stress. Therefore, the managers need to foster a culture that recognizes employees’ efforts. More focus should be put on the output rather than the working hours.
Occasional feedback should be meted to all employees to ensure that everyone feels noticed and welcomed.
Maintaining a Hybrid Culture
About 30% of leaders worldwide are concerned about maintaining a hybrid culture. With the office population scattered across different locations, it may be not easy to manage, especially when measuring their performance.
As employees may not get together for a long period, collaboration can take a hit. It remains onto the managers how they come up with effective ways for seamless communication.
To Conclude
A hybrid workplace with all its benefits and drawbacks is the best we have right now. The pandemic is far from over; therefore, safety is still a major concern. A hybrid workplace offers everything that we need to balance our lives. It is our best chance to bring over normalcy in our workplaces, or whatever it is now.
Hybrid workplaces are the best way to go forward.
WorkInSync is a leading hybrid workplace platform. With features such as desk booking and automated sanitization workflow, you can effectively manage your hybrid workplace. Book a demo to learn more.
