We’re halfway through 2021 and it seems that we’re edging closer to a return to office life. While some companies may be planning to return to pre-pandemic ways, others plan to adopt a new hybrid way of working. Today we are going to look some of the advantages a hybrid model can provide.
Strike A Balance
Both managers and employees can see how a return to the office in some capacity can be beneficial, however the split between hours spent at home and hours spent in the office can be a divisive topic. According to research by PWC 87% of employees feel that it’s important for collaboration and building relationships with their team. A majority (55% of employees) would prefer to stay working remotely for at least three days a week, however, 68% of executives feel that employees need to be in the office at least three days a week to maintain “company culture”.
Adjusting to a hybrid model is going to require compromise, allow employees to ease their way back into a routine that involves the office and facilitates a collaborative workplace culture. Consider a staggered return to the office where employees return in phases, limiting the number of staff on premises at any one time. Ask employees how often they would like to work on-site and have them sign up for a certain number of days in a week or month.
A hybrid model should work for everyone in your organisation, do not be afraid to experiment to find out what’s right for yours!
Benefits Of Hybrid Working Model
1. Better Collaboration and Work Relationships
There is no doubt that employees can collaborate when working remotely, after all, they’ve been doing it for almost 18 months now through Zoom, Teams and a whole host of other collaboration tools. After all that time people can not be blamed for feeling a bit of screen fatigue.
A hybrid working model allows employees to continue these digital collaborations while also facilitating interactions like face-to-face in formal meetings, as well as less formal desk side conversations or break discussions. These sorts of in-person interactions can help build working relationships and trust and can help an organisation thrive.
2. Improved Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance plays such a vital role in any healthy working environment, it helps to reduce stress and prevent burnout and allows a workforce to work to the best of their ability.
A remote working model is a perfect fit for achieving a healthy work-life balance, allowing for employees to divide their time between the office and home. Working remotely allows employees to schedule their day around both personal and work responsibilities, with the ability to work in the office allows them to have a space to separate the two if necessary.
3. Increased Productivity
In a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, more than half of managers surveyed believed their team were more productive working from home due, citing increased focus, great work-time flexibility and reduced absenteeism as the reasons behind this.
A hybrid model still allows employees to enjoy the benefits of remote work while still offering the opportunity to use office space for collaboration and allows individuals who may have some form of constraints at home, such as a lack of suitable working space, children on holidays from school or other distractions to access a dedicated workspace.
4. Lowered costs
Adopting a hybrid model of working can allow businesses to experience cost savings. A hybrid office doesn’t require rows of assigned desks, instead companies can use methods like hot desking to allow employees to share workspaces.
Once companies know how many employees will be on-site at a given time, employers can plan around new levels of occupancy levels to cut the cost of rent, office supplies, and other expenses.
Effectively Manage Your Time in A Hybrid Model
The flexibility of a hybrid working model can no doubt help employees and employers gain more control over their life with more control over hours spent in the office and hours at home. Managing this time effectively will be essential to any organisation wishing to make the transition to a hybrid way of working. A time tracking app can help you to manage this time and maintain productivity. If you’re looking to invest in a time tracking solution, why not consider 1time, try it now, with our 30-day free trial and help both you and your employees take control of your time!
