Hybrid work is one of the biggest buzzwords in the business world today. As the ongoing pandemic has changed the way we work, more and more companies have adopted a hybrid work model. In fact, a hybrid work model is used by 63% of high-growth companies, according to a report by Accenture. Additionally, 83% of employees prefer a hybrid work schedule. Clearly, the hybrid work model is integral for employee happiness and company growth alike.
But what is a hybrid work model? And how do you implement an effective hybrid work schedule? In this article, we will answer these questions and discuss the benefits of creating a hybrid working environment. The hybrid work model is here to stay, and the most successful companies will undoubtedly be those who get in on this trend sooner rather than later.
What is a Hybrid Model in Business?
A hybrid work schedule is one that combines virtual work with work in-office. Basically, employees on a hybrid work schedule work in-office some days and out of the office on other days. The amount of time that a hybrid employee spends working remotely vs. working in-office varies by company and by position. Nonetheless, any combination of time spent working remotely and in-office counts as a hybrid work schedule and makes someone a hybrid employee.
Additionally, a business that includes both employees who work remotely and those who work in the office can be said to operate under a hybrid work model. Under this model, teams must adopt hybrid work practices in order to work with team members in different locations. Thus, businesses that have both remote and local employees must implement similar policies to businesses that have all employees operating under a hybrid work schedule.
Benefits of Hybrid Work
A hybrid work model combines the benefits of remote work with the benefits of working in an office. If balanced effectively, hybrid employees can reap both benefits and businesses can achieve more than ever before. Here are the top benefits of implementing a hybrid work model:
- Wider talent pool: If your business accepts both in-office and remote employees, then you can effectively hire from anywhere in the world. You can employ the top talent for your team instead of just whoever is willing to relocate.
- Optimize different employee working styles: Employees aren’t all the same. Some work better in an office while others work better at home. Implementing a hybrid work model lets your employees work wherever is best for them, thus bringing out their best.
- Less expense: Hybrid work helps both employees and employers save money. Employees spend less time commuting, while employers spend less money on office space and commodities. It’s a win-win for everyone!
- Utilize all communication styles: When you implement a hybrid work schedule, you open up the possibilities for teammate communication and collaboration. If you need to meet in-person to get something done, you can do so. However, if you have a team that works better asynchronously, then you can implement that as well. A hybrid work model means that you can use whichever form of communication works best for a team or project.
- Happier employees: Employees that work remotely report a higher quality of life and less stress, according to the Employment Hero’s Work-Life Relationship survey. Hybrid employees that work from home benefit the most. At the same time, a hybrid work schedule lets employees reap the social benefits of working together in an office. A hybrid work model combines the best of both worlds and ensures that employees are happy, healthy, and successful.
How to Implement an Effective Hybrid Work Model
Despite the many benefits of a hybrid work model, it can still be challenging to structure an effective hybrid working environment. Teams must be able to transition work from one location to the next and remain focused no matter where they are. In order to implement an effective hybrid work model for your business, keep in mind the following tips.
Decide where leadership will work
Before opening up a hybrid work schedule to all employees, you should first decide where leadership will work. Will the CEO of your business work from home, the office, or adopt the same hybrid work schedule as other employees? How will leadership communicate company policy, goals, and changes? Make sure that team leaders have everything planned out before switching to a hybrid work model.
Know what your employees need
To implement an effective hybrid work model, you need to know your employees. Ask employees what their needs are in terms of work, home life, and other obligations. Find out what employees like in a hybrid work model and what they struggle with. You should know what kind of hybrid work schedule works best for each employee in terms of both their strengths and their needs. Then, once you start working with a hybrid model, continue to gather employee feedback.
Communicate, communicate, communicate
This can’t be emphasized enough! Your team has to be able to communicate effectively with one another when apart. Your communication cadence can’t be disrupted when moving between remote work and the office. As such, you need to use the same tools to communicate regardless of your location, whether that’s email, phone, video call, or another asynchronous communication tool. Even when in the office, you can’t rely too much on face-to-face conversations to get work done or else you won’t be able to get the same work done when working remotely.
Work with a consistent schedule
Make sure your team knows what work gets done when. Additionally, schedule meetings and check-ups on a consistent basis to ensure that tasks are getting done regardless of employee location. Use an employee scheduling app or project management software to make sure that everybody knows the schedule and can access it whenever they need to.
More Hybrid Work Resources
If you need more help creating an excellent hybrid working environment, then check out our articles on remote work and the secrets of a successful remote team. And if you need help identifying the communication tools you need to implement a successful hybrid work strategy, consider our top-rated screen sharing and file storage platform. You can schedule a demo with a remote work expert or start a free Droplr trial today.