Why Hybrid Work is Rising – What Benefits it can Bring

The workplace is changing, and fast. 

After the meteoric rise of remote work, fueled by the pandemic in 2020, a new model is merging: the hybrid workplace.

It seems that the new approach is here to stay. Why are so many companies choosing this model and what are its benefits?

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What is Hybrid work? A definition 

The hybrid workplace still has employees in the office but allows them to also work from home (or any preferred location that isn’t the office) for a few days a week.

I’ve found this comprehensive definition on the website of Billieapp.io:

A hybrid work model is one where employees have the flexibility to work a portion of their week from home and the remainder of their time in their office. However, it isn’t a rigid model to which a one-size-fits-all approach needs to be followed; employers can have some employees working fully remotely, have some employees in an office, and accommodate a mixture of both remote and in-office work for others.

Source

Every company chooses its own policy on how many hours employees spend in the office and how many spend remotely.

The hybrid model is appealing to small companies and big corporations alike: a few global companies that have switched to a hybrid work model include: Nationwide, Citigroup, Ford Motor Co., IBM, and General Motors Co. (source)

Our team, Timeneye, has actually embraced this model, too! Since November 2021, we 've been working on a hybrid model, with a couple of days in the office and the rest remote. Some team members take full advantage of the remote option, others prefer not to.

The Benefits of Hybrid Work

Why is hybrid work becoming the dominant model for the future of the workspace?

More Flexibility… 

Flexibility is the biggest perk of a hybrid workplace.

It gives employees a certain degree of choice, all within the rules and culture of the company. This flexibility allows for less commuting time (and less commuting-related stress), more family time, and more time to manage personal affairs or hobbies.

All of this eventually leads to better work-life balance and employee morale.

Meanwhile, the work still progresses.

…But Still Within A “Traditional” Setup 

Many companies may be hesitant to embrace a fully remote setting – which can have both benefits and drawbacks.

The hybrid work model allows for a sort of compromise, with remote work still possible, but keeping a more “ traditional” approach by having employees in the office for a few days a week. This doesn’t mean that the hybrid work model is without its challenges, but still, it’s seen as a more approachable solution that doesn’t completely require an overhaul of workflows and policies.

More Human Interaction 

While many workers love the independence that remote work brings, many laments the feeling of isolation and lack of human contact.

The hybrid work model allows for human contact, and in-person interaction, helping workers feel less isolated.

Costs Cuts For Companies 

With employees working partly from home, employers can lower office expenses significantly. A hybrid workforce allows companies to adapt and downsize their offices, resulting in lower utility bills, parking costs, and freedom from rigid office rents and leases.

Also, as we already mentioned, hybrid work improves employee morale and wellness: this translates to lower turnover costs, and fewer employees taking sick leave.

While companies should provide some compensation for home office setups to their workers ( i.e., a contribution on the employee’s internet bill, or home computer), studies are showing that even taking these contributions into account, hybrid work is still more financially convenient (more on that below).

Bigger Talent Pool Available 

Imagine finding the best candidate for a position in your company, the kind of person who could make a massive difference in your business. But they live miles and miles away and are unable to move for many reasons.

With the hybrid workplace setting, that candidate can still arrange to be present for a few days a week, but continue to work remotely for you for the remainder of the time. You can hire the person, the company is happy, and your company is happy.

The hybrid setting opens employers to the possibility to hire talents that would be otherwise out of reach.

The Rise Of Hybrid work: Stats and Data

• 74% of U.S. companies are using or plan to implement a permanent hybrid work model.
• 44% of U.S. employees prefer a hybrid work model, compared to 51% of employers.
• 63% of high-growth companies use a “productivity anywhere” hybrid work model.
• 55% of employees want to work remotely at least three days a week.

Source

• 84% of companies said that employee health and wellness was a “very important” consideration in coming up with a work plan.
• when considering new work approaches, 72% of companies said employee productivity was very important to their decision-making process, 58% said the same of access to talent, and 58% said aligning employees with a corporate mission was a top priority.
  Other considerations included diversity, equity, and inclusion, cybersecurity, and real estate, facilities, and technology costs. (Source)

• 83% of companies say collaboration on new projects has been as good or better than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was in the office full-time (Source).

But How Can a Company Transition To Hybrid Work?

1. Consider the logistics of it all and evaluate if this transition is feasible;
2. Consider the security challenges: invest in security software and protocols, to ensure your data is safe even if the workforce is working wherever;
3. Move to productivity/business software to bring the company data to the cloud, automate work, and measure productivity;
4. Establish communication guidelines, as well as workflows to monitor progress;
5. Learn about goals and goals tracking;
6. Try, test, and evaluate! Don’t give up if you run into challenges, instead, correct and iterate until you find what works for the company.

Conclusion 

Hybrid work offers several benefits to both workers and employees in terms of flexibility, well-being, work-life balance and productivity. Given that more and more companies are opting for the hybrid work model, it’s time to acknowledge its benefits – and whether companies should use it as a default.

For starters, companies can find new ways to improve their productivity – in the office, or otherwise!