Hybrid work model to continue in a post-pandemic world, experts say
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
When the coronavirus pandemic quickly enforced social distancing restrictions and nationwide lockdowns, businesses, as well as individuals, were faced with a scenario they had never met before.
Besides the fact that people’s personal lives were heavily disrupted, not being able to see friends and family, leave their house, socialise and work in the same way as before the pandemic, businesses also had to deal with a scenario and situation that had no precedent. Indeed, looking back at world history, we can read about previous pandemics. But the vast majority of individuals and businesses in the current climate had never had to deal with such a situation and learn how to adapt to it.
So, there is no denying the magnitude of this challenge. Uncertainty was a global and general feeling, accompanied by anxiety, fear of the unknown, the impossibility of planning for the future. However, as time went by, people and companies adapted rapidly.
With the help of technology and digital devices, people were able to (re)connect. Talking about businesses, many of them managed to stay afloat – and even thrive, when it comes to e-commerce and online companies – thanks to technological advancements. From digital tools that businesses can use to maintain and improve productivity, such as marketing scheduling tools, accounting software programs and tools like Google Drive, to video-conference and messaging tools like Zoom and Skype, a lot of companies managed to continue their activity and keep their businesses working. Although the circumstances were different, this undoubtedly helped many companies of various sizes to continue their activity. This, certainly, refers to the businesses that were able to recognise the need to change their approach and adapt accordingly.
This is where the new work practices come in, or better said, how old work practices managed to create a lasting trend. Some companies used remote work before the pandemic, too, although, in a significantly lower number, its popularity increased during the last two years of the coronavirus pandemic. This also introduced the hybrid paradigm approach – a combination of on-site and remote work, which is preferred by many people, employees and employers alike. In fact, a recent survey revealed how UK executives feel about hybrid work in a post-pandemic world. The results show that this work practice clearly has its advantages, with 87% of executives saying that they would prefer the hybrid working option if given the possibility. What’s more, 95% of them believe that hybrid work can benefit a business, making it more future-proof.
Given this data and the changed behaviour of both employees and employers, it can be assumed that the hybrid work model will continue in a post-pandemic world. Mixing in-office with remote working to provide great flexibility for employees as well as employers and business owners clearly has its advantages. So, if you have a start-up or a well-established company, you may want to consider adopting this work practice if it fits your business model and can drive the business further.
Here’s why the hybrid work practice could benefit your business:
Employee productivity and motivation can increase
Why does this happen? You may wonder why a hybrid work model could support employees more and help them become more productive and motivated. This is because their satisfaction also increases when a company meets their need for flexibility. Suppose your employees would prefer having the possibility to combine on-site with remote working, as this can support a better work-life balance. In that case, there is no wonder why their productivity and motivation increase.
Apart from the fact that they don’t have to waste time commuting, which can be incredibly exhausting and, hence, affect performance, they will also be able to maximise their potential and skills thanks to the flexibility provided. So, their mood and approach to work will be energised. As a result, you will have better-motivated employees, which directly influences a business’s overall productivity.
Optimise time and make use of it more efficiently
Some meetings don’t require a face-to-face gathering, which is a proven fact. During the first year of the pandemic, when nationwide lockdowns were enforced and people had to stay at home to reduce the spread of the virus, businesses were forced to continue their activity remotely. This has revealed that many meetings can quickly be done virtually, with the help of video conferencing tools.
Therefore, a hybrid model can be highly effective. However, transparency when using the hybrid work model is crucial. This means establishing a clear hybrid environment, from deciding what type of business activity should be fulfilled remotely and when on-site presence is necessary. The remote part of the hybrid model requires more planning than the office one, given that casual office conversations don’t happen as naturally. So, in case anything changes in your schedule or strategy, this must be immediately communicated with the entire team. This way, employees in the office and working remotely are all updated.
Once a transparent hybrid model has been established, everyone knows when a physical appearance is necessary and when work tasks can be done virtually. This way, your business can make use of time more efficiently.
A cost-effective option for both parties
This is a no-brainer. The hybrid work model is a mix of on-site and remote work. With people working remotely, there is no denying that the business, as well as its employees, can save money. Because some of your employees, or all of them, will be working from home or a remote location during a decided period of time, your bills will be reduced. So, office expenses like electricity, heating, rent won’t be as high as when you use the space five times per week, eight hours per day. Similarly, employees won’t have to spend money on lunch, public transportation or petrol if they use their personal cars.
Nurturing work relationships while providing flexibility
Because your company utilises the hybrid work paradigm, you will be able to nurture work relationships, as face-to-face interactions support this best. At the same time, you are the kind of business many individuals are looking for at the moment and wish to work for – one that provides flexibility. This work practice manages to balance the two effectively. As a result of the hybrid work model, your employees’ loyalty will increase. This equals employee retention.
