Hybrid Work Model: Understanding How It Works
As lockdown restrictions ease, companies around the globe are planning for the future of work. Considering employees everywhere have settled into a routine of remote working, organizations are actively looking towards a hybrid work model that combines remote working and at-office collaboration.
Today's most desired offering for job seekers is working remotely, with 55% of employees wanting to work from anywhere at least thrice a week. In fact, according to Mom Corps, 42% of employees would take a pay cut to have flexible work options from their organization.
With 74% of companies in the United States either using or planning to implement the hybrid work model, it’s time to understand what a hybrid work model is and how to adapt it to your organization’s operations.
What is hybrid work?
The unprecedented transition into working from home has proven that productivity and flexibility go hand in hand. And a hybrid work model provides just that – an approach that empowers employees to work offsite, on-site, and in-between locations such as coworking and shared spaces. It’s a radical departure from the traditional 9-to-5 work model, giving employees the flexibility to:(
a) work remotely or on-site part of the week
(b) work remote full-time
(c) work full-time on-site
The importance of a hybrid work model
Studies show 42.2% of Gen Z would like to work remotely only one to two days a week, 37.8% of millennials would like to work remotely only three to four days a week, and 21.4% of Baby Boomers and Gen X would like to work remotely full time. Employees see value in hybrid work, but what makes the hybrid work model so attractive?
Perks of having a hybrid work model
Increased productivity: Instead of working only between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays, employees have flexibility in getting work done when they are at their productive best.
Work-life balance: A flexible work schedule promotes better work-life balance. Studies have shown that employees who have more control over their work hours can plan their personal time better.
Low exposure to illness: A hybrid work model gives more flexibility to sick employees, giving them the option to work remotely altogether.
Overhead savings: Since this set-up involves fewer employees on-site at any given time, you can consider reinvesting what you save on real estate costs into providing alternate work options such as co-working and satellite offices.
Hire global talent: Companies can gain access to a vast pool of talent, giving them a competitive edge while entering new markets and increasing productivity.
Remote work model vs. hybrid work model
Fully remote companies do not have physical workspaces for their employees to work out of. Meetings, tasks, and events are held virtually and are accessible for employees working out of anywhere. All they need is a stable Internet connection and a work-friendly environment such as shared and coworking spaces. On the other hand, hybrid companies make staggering arrangements so employees can work remotely a few days in the week and on-site on others.
The hybrid work model is increasing in popularity because it:
(i) requires low investment (infrastructure and equipment), and
(ii) is easy to implement
A well-known company with a hybrid work set-up is Apple. Employees can work from home twice a week and are expected to work from the office thrice a week. Another well-known company with a hybrid set-up is Microsoft. Employees have the option of working 100% remotely or working from anywhere for 50% of the week.
Conclusion
The hybrid work model was once seen as an alternative style of working. Today, as 72% of companies look towards investing in tools for future virtual collaboration and 83% of employees chose flexibility, it’s only a matter of time before more companies jump aboard the hybrid work model train to retain workforce talent.
Sources
Coworking space gives your hybrid team a shared base for in-office days, so you can cut real estate overhead and still keep collaboration in person.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Studies and research show that organizations adopt hybrid work models in order to:
- extend flexibility that is crucial for productivity, and
- maintain in-person interactions that are needed for company culture.
The fitting process, people, and tech – that’s all you need to adopt a successful hybrid work model. We recommend running an employee survey to understand your team’s needs before choosing a working model that suits your organization.
Most definitely, research shows that a hybrid work model improves employee engagement. According to a survey conducted by Webex, 79% of employees indicated that their employee engagement levels have either stayed the same or shown improvement since they started working remotely.
The most common types of hybrid work models are:
- Flexible hybrid work model
- Fixed hybrid work model
- Office-first hybrid work model
- Remote-first hybrid work model
