In today’s business landscape, staying competitive and efficient has never been more critical. When companies struggle to keep up with the rapidly changing demands of their industries and markets, they tend to fall behind. In this blog post, we will explore what a hybrid work schedule is, its benefits for employees and companies, and common concerns you may have about implementing it in your company.
So, what is a hybrid work schedule and what does it stand for?
Hybrid work is a people-centric approach to work schedules that drives increased productivity and job satisfaction whilst addressing the major challenges of remote work. It can allow employees to balance multiple roles and tasks and significantly increases employee engagement, reduces stress, and boosts efficiency.
Based on the premise that humans fundamentally still need human contact to feel fulfilled, employers can implement an office model that enables remote work while simultaneously encouraging face-to-face interaction at least a few days per week.
Hybrid work is a concept that integrates the best parts of freelancing with the benefits of being an employee. It requires a blend of digital technologies and employee-driven team collaboration. This new form of work has emerged as a result of recent changes in the labor market and is not bound by traditional boundaries or regulations.
Benefits for employer and employee
Hybrid work schedules provide the opportunity for companies to offer increased flexibility for their workers, allowing them the ability to set their schedules and work from home if needed.
Employees who frequently manage multiple responsibilities will have access to an improved work-life balance. These benefits should positively impact employee retention, as well as increase employee satisfaction. It can even provide greater opportunities for advancement within the company.
Hybrid work allows employees to be more engaged in their work and increase productivity. They can eventually share tasks across different disciplines instead of focusing on only one task. Employees can spend time on other projects that require their expertise like writing or design. This also helps employees feel satisfied by not feeling wholly responsible for a single task.
Why do employees want it?
To find out if your employees want hybrid work practices, ask them what they think works best for them. You can also conduct a survey on a company-wide scale or among specific departments to get more insight into remote working preferences.
According to surveys reported by LinkedIn, over 87% of workers prefer remote work and 56% would like some sort of a hybrid work schedule.
For employees, hybrid work is all about working efficiently while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With this type of work model, employees can manage multiple projects across a variety of different locations. They can also take home what they are working on and continue working on it at their leisure.
Additionally, employees can schedule meetings with their supervisors only when necessary. A major benefit of hybrid work is that managers can eliminate workloads while simultaneously increasing employee engagement.
Types of hybrid work
1. Office-first hybrid work model
Employees can work remotely 1 or 2 days a week, then on-site the rest of the time in order to participate in meetings or training that require face-to-face communication.
The company tries to make work-from-home arrangements to accommodate the employee’s schedule.
2. Remote-first hybrid work model
Employees spend most of their time working remotely and occasionally visit office spaces to train and collaborate.
In this model, the company can rely on team members located in the same area to get together when they see fit and may even offer drop-in hours or have its offices accessible 24/7.
3. Flexible hybrid work model
Workers are able to choose when and where they work depending on what their priorities are.
For example, a worker might want to work a 9 am-5 pm shift but then work an 11 pm-7 am shift the next day. They can also just make a schedule that works best for them and set goals for a more manageable work day.
4. Fixed hybrid work model
In this model, it’s the organization that sets the days and hours employees are allowed to work remotely or go into the office.
It is often used by companies who want to give employees permission to work from home or remote offices, while making sure they are still working in-office when needed. For instance, some teams could have a Monday-Wednesday schedule while others might work Wednesday-Friday.
The impact of hybrid work on productivity
Many companies are taking hybrid work to the next level by implementing it across the whole of their organization. The impact of this new model on productivity is significant. Especially when you consider that employees no longer have to sit at their desks to do their work.
In order to adapt effortlessly to any sort of hybrid work model it is essential that employees have some of the following skills:
- Being able to shift from one project to another with considerable flexibility.
- A clear understanding of what one wants to achieve in each project and how to do it.
- A willingness to experiment with different methods, tools, and approaches.
- An openness to change, flexibility in method, and ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
- Even as a team member, one must still be self-sufficient.
Should companies offer hybrid work as a hiring perk?
The market is changing, and it’s not just about hiring the best talent. It’s also about retaining the talent that you have.
The importance of this is underscored by the number of high-profile companies like Apple (AAPL), Netflix (NFLX), and Wealthsimple (WSRD) who have recently announced layoffs or reportedly plan to scale back hiring.
This is why some companies are now offering a hybrid work schedule as a hiring perk. They offer employees the flexibility to work from home and in their office, or anywhere else they want.
This way, the company increases its chances of attracting better candidates and retaining talent for longer periods. The more flexible employees are with their work, the less likely they are to suffer from burnout.
In addition, your company can also offer other incentives like improved health benefits or increased vacation benefits. These combined incentives will make it seem like you’re offering something that no one else can.
Your business could then show off its commitment to your employees while simultaneously increasing productivity and improving customer satisfaction.
How to transition to a hybrid work model?
One of the most common ways companies adopt a hybrid work model, in addition to implementing a hybrid schedule, is by transitioning from a traditional office setting to an open-plan office. Other companies form completely open offices, and still, others go with a mixture of both.
The benefits of this transition are numerous, including:
- Creating a more team-oriented environment that increases employee engagement and collaboration.
- Improved communication between employees.
- Decreasing time spent at your desk decreases stress levels and boosts productivity.
- Reducing the risk of unproductive distractions on the job.
- Easier access to team members.
A period of adaptation is expected when you transition to this new working model. It will take some time for everyone to adjust – for some, more time than others. It’s also virtually impossible to accommodate every need.
Managers will need to keep their teams up to date on each step of the transition. For example, if you’re transitioning to an open office plan, managers should tell employees about how open plans work as well as how each individual’s space will be designated (i.e., where they’ll be working).
If employees have any questions or concerns during this time, managers should be fully prepared to answer them.
Takeaways
Working in a hybrid schedule can be a great way to get the best of both worlds when it comes to work and life.
It can offer more flexibility and freedom than a traditional work schedule, while still providing the structure and support that many workers need.
The bottom line is that hybrid work schedules are a win-win for employees and employers. Employees are more productive when they have a better work-life balance. Companies save money on office space and overhead costs.
Most importantly, hybrid work schedules give employees the flexibility to work when and where they want. Overall, hybrid work schedules offer several advantages for both employees and employers. Ultimately, the decision to implement a hybrid work schedule should be based on what will work best for your company and your employees.
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