Today the hybrid work model is everywhere, it is an employment trend that is here to stay. Even more so since the Covid-19 pandemic, the turning point that caused many organizations to rush to incorporate new options into their day-to-day work.
Today, millions of businesses around the world have embraced this working methodology. Why is that? Here’s everything you need to know about the hybrid work model, from exactly what it is and its features, to its benefits and drawbacks. Because, of course, it has them too. Let’s take a look at it.
What is hybrid work?
Hybrid work is a working model characterized by a combination of digital tools and traditional work formats. This allows employees to work both remotely and at the company’s own physical office.
This gives rise to many variables. For example, some companies prefer to set specific days when employees must come to the office, while others leave it up to their free choice. And even in other organizations, it is the employees who decide on the number of hours they will work remotely.
Main features of this work model
- Use of technologies. Like other contemporary work methodologies, it heavily utilizes information and communication technologies to facilitate task execution. In a hybrid work environment, companies provide their employees with the digital tools and equipment they need to perform.
- Balancing work routines. In the hybrid discipline, two systems of work coexist: face-to-face and remote. The key of hybrid work model success is that the two methodologies complement each other perfectly, so that the employee can perform effectively, no matter where they are.
- Two-way working relationship. Obviously, hybrid work involves a contractual relationship that demands responsibilities, obligations, and benefits from all the parties involved. For example, the company substantially reduces its operating costs and the worker gains in salary with lower transport and food costs, among other benefits, e.g., time saving resulting from the lack of home-office commutes.
- Specific management and administration. In a hybrid work model, it is crucial to have the assistance of systems professionals for ensuring the timely maintenance of equipment and software updates, as well as for promptly resolving any IT-related issues. Leaders and Human Resources specialists with experience in implementing and leading hybrid work models are also necessary.
What should hybrid workspaces look like?
In a hybrid working model, everything starts from the premise that offices must be “humanized”. Because our surroundings have an influence (and a big one) on our motivation and, therefore, on our productivity.
The office is losing prominence as a fixed location in which to carry out daily work activities and is
increasingly becoming a space for collective creation and interaction between colleagues. It also retains its role as a corporate connection hub, a link to the customer and sometimes as a brand showcase.
Since the purpose of such facilities has changed, so has their design. Employees, therefore, demand workplaces that contribute to their motivation and well-being. “Friendlier” offices, with recreational and informal areas (break spaces, relaxation areas, etc.). In any case, it is essential to have technological spaces, whether for virtual meetings, digital networking or for those who need more concentration or privacy.
Hybrid workspaces are generally characterized by open-plan facilities, where employees do not have fixed workstations, as well as several common and collaborative areas. Here, workers can relax or work, but more at ease.
Advantages and disadvantages comparing face-to-face to remote work
Working remotely on some days and coming to the office on others has its pros and cons. Basically, it is attractive because of the flexible hours and the reduction of commuting, while at the same time it encourages socialization and a feeling of belonging to the organization.
Now you will understand why hybrid work models, as opposed to remote or face-to-face work, are gaining exponentially in popularity. And why they have gone from being a mere trend to a labor necessity for millions of people in recent years. The debate is open.
Advantages of hybrid work
Below, we’ve listed the main benefits of hybrid systems, both for the organization itself and for employees and business leaders. They are:
- Greater flexibility. Hybrid work is synonymous with a relationship of trust between the company and the employee. Where this is the case, workers will have much more decision-making power to organize themselves on a day-to-day basis, as compared with traditional systems. In fact, depending on the organizational policy, they can choose when to work remotely and when to work from the office. As a result, hybrid work allows for a much better work-life balance than face-to-face work.
- More positive working environment. Hybrid work models take care to perfect the working experience for users. And it shows. The secret? A system that is adapted to workers’ personal needs and obligations. On the other hand, those who work exclusively on a remote system often miss the socialization with the rest of the team.
- Increased productivity. When you work happily, you work better. That’s just the way it is. People who are part of a hybrid work model are more motivated and, as a result, demonstrate better performance at work. Commuting times or daily travel are also optimized, which has a positive impact on actual productive hours.
- More innovative companies. Organizations promoting a hybrid system have no choice but to keep their digital resources up to date. As a result, they are often much better prepared to face the technological challenges ahead than companies that only rely on face-to-face work.
- It reduces some business costs. Unlike the face-to-face working model, it allows companies to cut down on certain costs, like those related to the workplace, such as rent or utilities.
Disadvantages of hybrid work model
As with any system, before implementing a transition to a hybrid enterprise, we need to assess many aspects, especially the main disadvantages:
- It requires high investment. The hybrid format, compared with the face-to-face format, implies a very significant investment in terms of the use of different digital tools and devices.
- It is not always efficient. Be careful, because if the company does not stipulate a certain monitoring of tasks and working hours, efficiency could be limited. This is obviously not the case in more traditional methodologies. Solution: regular assessments and working time logs with specific software.
- It hinders teamwork. Hybrid working hampers some business tasks, especially work done in groups. To improve this aspect, companies should allocate time and resources to monitor the real-time activities of remote employees.
- Controlling new technologies is a must. It is essential for employees to master digital tools in order to be successful in their roles. To do this, the company will have to constantly invest in training. This point should be common to all working models: face-to-face, remote work and hybrid.
How to transition successfully to a hybrid enterprise
The effective process of planning and transitioning an organization to the hybrid working model can entail considerable challenges, especially for its workforce. Here are the main challenges:
- Determine which positions are most suitable for remote working. For a successful transition to a hybrid format, it is important to analyze how suitable the different positions in the workforce are for remote working.
- Define which hybrid work model will work best for the company. Depending on each organization and its structure, the hybrid system can be understood in different ways and for this reason it is important to define the model to follow from the beginning.
- Planning transition strategies and assessing the problems of hybrid employment. Some of the challenges companies face in their hybrid transition relate to Human Resources Department and key Managers (people managing the team), things like promoting corporate culture, employee well-being and productivity, information and process security, maintaining talent engagement, building collaborative teams, and bringing in new employees.
- Establish organizational support structures based on objectives and responsibilities. The successful transition to a hybrid model will depend on redefining the role of physical workspaces and appropriate investment in communication and collaboration software.
Digitalization is the irruption of technology into a corporate environment and digital transformation is about how we use this technology to evolve and improve the business model. Stay tuned, because in our next article we will be unlocking the secrets of how to crafting an optimal digital transformation plan, just as we do in our digital transformation programs, MBAs, MSc in Digital Business and in the Bachelor in Transformational Leadership and Social Impact.
