The workplace has seen significant upheaval in recent years which has impacted the way people want to work.
Post-pandemic, fully remote working is becoming less common as companies urge people to return to the office on a more full-time basis. However, a hybrid model of working is what employees seem to want.
Hybrid working is so popular that research by Leesman reported by the BBC found that 94% of global workers liked hybrid working, with a preference for working from home 2.75 days a week.
Employers aren’t so sure, however! Many companies are focused on getting people back to the office to reignite team collaboration and drive engagement as these can be harder to achieve in remote working environments.
So there’s a conflict between what employees want and what employers are willing to facilitate.
In this blog, we explore the pros and cons of hybrid working. We’ll also provide five effective ways to be a successful and seamless hybrid worker whether you’re working from home or in the office.
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What is hybrid working?
Hybrid working blends remote work with in-office time, allowing employees to split their workdays between home and the office.
It combines the freedom of remote work with the collaboration and structure of an in-person office environment.
However, many companies are concerned about how hybrid working affects serbia email list 543010 contact leads employee experience, engagement, and culture. This has led many – including big brands like Disney and Nike – to bring in return-to-office policies that require workers to be in the office for up to five days.
A recent survey from Resume Builder showed that 9 in 10 companies with office space will have returned to office by 2024 while 72% say return-to-office has improved revenue.
“We, as recruiters, have seen clients and behaviors are changing rapidly. It used to be that people would work mostly remotely: now 90% of our vacancies are three days in the office for people that work in marketing,” said Terry Payne, Global Managing Director at Aspire Recruitment on a DMI podcast.
What are the benefits of hybrid working
There’s a reason workers like hybrid working – it gives them the flexibility to juggle their professional and personal lives.
In Gallup’s research, the top three benefits of hybrid work are improved work/life balance (76%), more efficient use of time (64%) and less burnout or fatigue (61%).
Top Advantages of Hybrid Work according to Hybrid Employees – Gallup
Let’s look at each benefit in more detail
Improved work/life balance: The ability to balance work commitments with personal ones is one of the great benefits of hybrid models for workers. For example, working from home can make school or daycare pick-ups easier.
More efficient taiyuan mobile phone number list use of time: People can structure their day around tasks so they can be more efficient in executing them.
Less burnout or fatigue: By having a better work/life balance, people can avoid stress and burnout. For example, commuting to and from work can be time-consuming and stressful for many.
More freedom: Hybrid working gives people more freedom and flexibility around the hours they work. Working hours can be moved around so people start work earlier or later to facilitate commitments.
Higher productivity: Many workers report being more productive in a home environment as they are not interrupted by co-workers or brought into meetings that are not relevant.
What are the challenges of hybrid working?
While many employees and companies have become accustomed to hybrid working, certain issues and challenges tend to crop up.
The main challenges often revolve around communication, productivity, inclusion, and management.
Top Challenges of Hybrid Work according to Hybrid Employees – Gallup
Let’s look more closely at the top five challenges cited in the Gallup research.
Less access to work resources: People who work from home only have access to what they own or the company provides. So while many may have access to a laptop, they may have more limited access to office equipment such printers or photocopiers, or remote access to a secure system.
Less connected to organizational culture: It makes sense that people who are in the office more often will benefit from the company culture and social life, such as team lunches or impromptu after-work events.
Decreased collaboration
Collaboration can be effective in a virtual environment, thanks to massive advances level pp your marketing in technology. But many companies prefer in-person meetings. And some say that it’s harder to brainstorm or come up with ideas remotely.
Impaired relationships with coworkers: Shared spaces such as canteens or conference rooms offer people a way to connect with others they would not normally meet or work with. This is much harder to do in a remote or hybrid setting.
Reduced cross-functional communication: Sometimes good ideas or solutions come from an unscheduled conversation in the office with someo
