The pandemic had different implications for different people. For our workplaces, it was a drastic departure from the traditional setting.
The hybrid workplace mixes on-site and remote work that offers greater flexibility to the employees. Several analyses have been conducted since the onset of the pandemic. And each of those reveals that most employees want to move away from the traditional setting.
So the 9 to 5 setting is no longer a viable option. With a hybrid workplace, employees get more autonomy in their routines. Many have expressed the opportunity of enjoying a better work-life balance. Visit here to know more!
A hybrid work model opens up the massive scope of reducing real estate and overhead costs for organizations. With fewer desks required, organizations can create a workplace that promotes collaborative work.
Now, we all have heard about a hybrid workplace. But with this blog, we want to deep dive into the nitty-gritty of a hybrid workplace. Let us understand what a hybrid workplace is and how it adds value to both the employees and the employers.
What is a Hybrid Workplace?
As we mentioned, a hybrid work model is a mix of on-site and remote work. But it can be further classified into three categories. These are:
- Office-centric Hybrid: Employees come to the office most of the time in this setting. Two or three days of the week, they work from another location. Amazon and Apple have adopted this model.
- Hybrid-remote Office: Under this category, employees get to choose whether they want to work on-site or remote. The organization may prescribe the number of days; however, the days the employees come are decided by them. HubSpot and Salesforce have implemented this hybrid work model approach.
- Remote-friendly Hybrid: This approach sees a sizable percentage of employees (a minimum of 25%) work remotely while the rest keep working from the office. GitHub and Twitter have adopted this model.
Organizations are adopting the approach most suitable to their business needs. Experts have claimed that a hybrid setting is not temporary. It is not to fill in the gap left by the pandemic. Most believe that this is the future of work.
What Value Does Hybrid Workplace Have?
A survey by Wakefield Research showed that 47% of the working population is ready to leave their current jobs if the employers don’t provide flexible working. Now, this is quite a number to say.
Another survey revealed that 72% of employees worldwide want a hybrid work setting in their organizations.
Therefore, it is no surprise, but employees find value in a hybrid work model. Executives too believe that implementing a hybrid workplace is essential to maintain morale.
We all have seen that remote working has been successful. Productivity increased, especially for employees who had to commute for long hours. But it is not sustainable. For collaboration, employees need to be present in the office.
Therefore, the need for a hybrid workplace. Nevertheless, here is a list of perks that a hybrid workplace has for both employees and organizations.
1. Employees Can Work When They Feel the Most Productive
In our traditional workplaces, employees had to log in from 9 to 5 for five days a week, and there was no flexibility whatsoever. Most employees would complain of being burned out.
To add to the wound, even if someone wouldn’t feel productive in the morning, they would still have to sit in front of the laptop and work. So inefficiency combined with lack of productivity marred company growth.
In a hybrid work model, employees have more flexibility over how and when they get their work done. If someone feels most productive after office hours, they can work then without feeling guilty. They can also choose the job they want to do on-site and from home.
With such flexibility, employee experience also increases.
2. The Work-life Balance Improves Significantly
A recent study by Slack showed that employees want a hybrid work model because of the better work-life balance.
Since they have the autonomy to decide when they want to work, employees get a significant amount of time to indulge in leisure activities. Whether it is to run an errand or spend time with their kids, there is time to do it all.
Also, employees aren’t required to commute daily in a hybrid work setting. This saves a lot of time.
Therefore, work-life balance is an advantage that most talk about.
3. Safety Remains a Priority
Although the pandemic is nearing its end, the threat of the virus remains. A survey said that 66% of employees are still worried about returning to the office due to safety concerns.
So, yes, COVID restrictions might be waning; new variants are still possible. In a hybrid work model, the chances of too many employees coming together are reduced significantly.
This lowers the chance of a sick employee infecting the others. Most companies have also made it mandatory to get vaccinated before coming to the office. All employees have to undergo health screenings. So, if an employee is sick, they can avoid coming to the office altogether.
4. Organizations Can Save on Real Estate Costs
In the pre-pandemic era, all employees would have to come to the office. This meant that the firm would have to provide them with seating areas. In short, the number of desks required was 100%.
However, a study has shown that at least 30% of those desks would remain empty or underutilized. This would add up to the real estate cost. Also, maintaining these desks or paying for the electricity would add to the overhead cost.
In a hybrid setting, only a handful of employees come to the office at a time. On the best days, the total population is still 60%. This means that companies can do away with desks that are not being used.
They can convert these desks into collaboration spaces if required.
The hybrid workplace opens up the possibility to reduce real estate costs by 30%. So for companies, this is a huge save and adds value to the overall workplace strategy.
5. Companies Can Hire Talent Worldwide
Earlier, organizations would have to look for local talents. The chances of hiring talent from a different city or country would mean extra cost.
Since a hybrid work setting supports remote working most days, organizations can look for talents worldwide. Having access to a broader pool of talents means better growth opportunities for companies.
Also, the chance of cracking new markets with their local talent can give companies an edge over their competitors.
To Conclude
There is a reason for hybrid workplaces to gain momentum. The values that it provides to both the employees and employers make it a reliable, long-term strategy.
We are still at the early phases of the adoption, and it would take some time to fine-tune. However, there is a ray of hope that by the end of 2024, most of the big names will have adopted and implemented it.
If you intend to adopt a hybrid workplace, you need to have the right solution at your disposal. A cloud-based hybrid workplace software that allows companies to implement a hybrid model at a minimum cost.
With features like desk booking, meeting room management, sanitization workflow, employee scheduling, and much more, your journey to hybrid can become seamless. Available in both web and mobile-based apps, you can opt for a demo today to know more.
