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Is the Hybrid Workplace Approach for You?

May 28, 2021
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As the world went into lockdown owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us were forced to try out a completely new work structure. Work-from-home and remote working policies went into effect.

Yet, the nature of some businesses' operations just does not permit a 100% telecommuting policy. The solution was to create a reasonable balance, resulting in what is known as the hybrid workplace approach.

What

The hybrid workspace style is a type of workplace environment that combines elements of remote and in-office employment. Some or all workers in a typical hybrid workforce have the freedom to pick where and when they work, splitting their time between working at home and working from the main office.

A hybrid working model allows a company to have one or more offices where a percentage of its personnel routinely attends, while the remaining employees work remotely or from home. This contrasts with a totally remote working approach, in which no physical offices exist, and all staff works remotely.

Under social distancing rules, this resulted in the redesigning of office spaces depending on the percentage of people onsite and the functionality of the space. Work schedules have been readjusted and made more flexible to facilitate both remote workers and those situated at the office.

Although this hybrid remote work model is relatively recent, there are three key differences from past hybrid or remote working configurations that we were familiar with before the global pandemic:

● The ratio between in-office and remote work has shifted, with a much higher proportion of office work being done remotely. This is with a hybrid workspace approach being the mainstream rather than the exception for effectiveness.

● Days in the office and days telecommuting aren't usually scheduled ahead of time.

● Working in the office and remotely is not fixed but rather dynamic and ever-changing in real-time.

A hybrid workplace will almost be entirely remote, with employees only coming in for regular face-to-face meetings. It could also be virtually exclusively office-based, with only a few people or teams working remotely.

The purpose of a hybrid workspace, whatever it is arranged, is to combine the interests of individual workers with their ability to interact and be efficient in a shared physical environment.

Why

Employers have been compelled to reconsider what it means to have a physical workplace since the COVID-19 outbreak revolutionized the way we work. Over the last year, employee priorities have shifted. Some of us are hesitant to return to the office, while others are eager to do so. Most people think that the custom of fixed shifts is a distant memory and that a more versatile strategy is necessary.

● The past year has demonstrated that we have the means, software, and skills to work effectively from anywhere, but it has also revealed the drawbacks of remote work.

● Employees may feel lonely or unrecognized.

● Home technology setup may be insufficient, or their workstation may be tight or cluttered with distractions.

● Employees want to be able to work wherever and whenever. They want to spend less time commuting and more time with loved ones. They also want to see coworkers in person and collaborate on common goals in a real environment that isn't within the confines of their own house.

● On the other hand, employers can use the hybrid workplace to reconfigure existing office structures, recruit fresh talent from afar, and boost employee diversity.

● Organizations have also experienced a favorable influence on employee morale and productivity as a result of remote working. The hybrid environment is one method to keep that beneficial impact going in the long run.

How

Switching to a hybrid workplace entails redesigning your work operations from the inside out, ensuring that they function regardless of where they are used. It's one of the most challenging tasks a company may face, and how you tackle it depends on the size and nature of your company.

Examine how organizations similar to yours have converted to a hybrid or remote work environment, and pay close attention to the lessons they learned—and the missteps they made—along the way. Here are a few pointers to help you plan:

Objectives

You must align new goals with a hybrid workplace since this can smooth the transition into such a structural framework. As the business manager or owner, you must analyze the numerous options given by integrating a hybrid work environment. There is no denying that the future of employment will see several changes. However, in the corporate sector, this workplace will become more employee-centric. As a result, employees can function without interruptions while also finding their work more enjoyable. You should also bear in mind that changing organizational objectives helps to improve employee job efficiency while also enhancing morale.

Introduce

When it comes to adopting a hybrid work culture, being open and honest with your workers is the right approach. Keeping your team informed of such innovations would thus assist them in adapting to these changes appropriately. You should also express this notion to them and solicit any insightful comments. You may use this information to help you enhance your hybrid workplace structure to align with your employees' best interests.

Options

Give them a choice of two or three approaches to work at your company: one that is primarily based in the office, one centered from home, and one somewhere in the middle. Allow people to change their choices, but attempt to discourage them from doing so too repeatedly. This allows you to plan ahead and know where everyone will be at any given point in time, permitting you to manage resources more efficiently.

Ask

Everyone has different goals, and developing a successful hybrid workplace requires the input of employees from all areas of the company. Assess your workforce and respond to their comments. Be honest with them about the types of improvements you can make in the workplace, and make yourself open to listening to their concerns and suggestions.

Layout

When fewer employees are in the office, it is easier to design an ideal plan for employee safety. It is unknown how long social distancing requirements will be in effect, therefore grab the chance to de-densify the office and develop shared working environments around the workplace. Allow for plenty of private space between desks, and provide one-way mechanisms to guide colleagues all around the building safely.

Tools

● Use cloud-based productivity software and videoconferencing capabilities to level the level field between those working remotely and those in the office. When a worker is not at the office, they should be able to accomplish their tasks just as well. An employee in the optimal hybrid workplace should do their job even if the office disappeared tomorrow.

● They should also have easy access to any information and resources they require to be productive, so make them available and easy to access. Capture every detail, from a client meeting to a casual conversation in the hall, so that everyone is up to date and on the same page.

Understanding the requirements of flexible space will aid in determining which tools should be included. This guarantees that the hybrid workplace model is maximized and that firms may reap the rewards of hybridity while minimizing the risks associated with faulty channels of communication and interaction. A flexible workplace, also known as flex space, is a work arrangement with an evolving environment. In them, you'll find everything you'd expect to see in a standard office setting: desks, seats, phones, computers, and so on. The difference is that you can arrange them in a far more versatile fashion. 

● Except for standing desks, most office furniture available for an ergonomic workplace lets you move them around the workplace quickly and easily. These desks are still suitable for usage in corners or if you are implementing another flexible working design, such as hot desks. 

● Furniture that allows you to make the most of a flexible workspace includes ergonomic office chairs, portable storage solutions, divider walls, and foldable tables that readily slot together for conference meetings.

Final Thought

Although a hybrid workplace may appear to be a temporary fix to a temporary problem, it is fundamentally the answer to the future of work. This model prioritizes keeping a stable and structured workplace culture for collaboration, safety, and mental health.