How to Excel at the Hybrid Working Model?
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and changes in working norms- the phrase hybrid working has gained popularity in recent months. Working from home has been on the menu for several years. However, as businesses prepare for a post-pandemic world, they must consider the workplace, both now and in the future. You might take a dual strategy, having your employees work from home and in the office. It might be done as a team split or with people spending a few days at home and the remainder of their working week at the formal workplace.
This article will discuss further hybrid working and how you can apply it in the business and take advantage of it.
What is hybrid working?
Although there is no official definition of hybrid working, it refers to people who work both in a traditional workplace (such as an office) and at home or elsewhere. As a result, your staff might spend three days a week at work and two days at home. This activity has been on the rise for the past decade or two, and it has now been accelerated by the pandemic and lockdowns.
According to a recent analysis of Legal & General by the think tank Demos, two-thirds of the working population (65%) had their everyday location forcefully shifted at some moment because of the pandemic throughout 2020. Nearly eight out of ten workers (79%) who were compelled to work from home wish to continue doing this, at least part-time (57%) if not all of the time (22%). The research also states that most people who have been obliged to work from home only desire to do so part-time.
Advantages of hybrid working
Flexible working is among other advantages of the hybrid model. Companies realize that people working at home won’t require office space that will save them rent and utilities.
However, it has downsides too, like fewer face-to-face interactions among the staff.
Denise Jennings, head of HR at RotaCloud, suggests starting work by developing the groundwork. According to her, you first need to look at every job role and decide whether it is suitable for a remote or office-based workplace. You can also know about the individual preferences and circumstances of employees. Also, ensure that they are happy with the location. It should be a collaborative process, not a top-down method. Businesses should also keep government health and safety guidelines in mind. They should perform risk assessments where needed. Organizations need to ensure that everyone has an up-to-date employment contract that reflects their location.
Supporting hybrid-working employees
Staff at Glass Digital, a digital marketing agency, applied a hybrid approach in 2018. And they have noticed many benefits with this model. They have received positive feedback from the staff, the productivity and standards were high, and the absence of employees was less. They had noted the trust and flexibility offered by the remote working policy led to an increase in employee productivity and morale. Furthermore, the managerial team had started the one-to-one catch-ups with the people or team lunches. The agency took weekly staff surveys to ensure staff morale and issues if they faced any.
Few companies will want to specify the exact number of days employees should be at work or home. The fundamental to this new method of working is flexibility. Some employees will choose to work primarily from home, while others may prefer to come into the office three or four days each week. Organizations should also look out for individuals who have not been at the workplace in person and encourage them to make an appearance in the workplace for their own sake and yours.
Younger employees or those in challenging positions may require more supervision and may benefit from spending more time at work rather than at home. Working from home but being present at work is critical, and organizing regular formal or even informal meetings for entire teams and departments can help. It is also crucial to ensure that hot-desking arrangements and meeting room booking systems work.
Internet security is vital for home workers
Security is also a matter of concern for the hybrid model. According to Hall-jones, the company should ensure that every employee has been issued a policy offering advice on confidentiality. For example, how they should be stored securely in the IT system. You can also discuss with your IT department the security of remote workers. Home broadband connections might be less secure than business-grade ones. Thus, you may use the VPN (Virtual private network). Remember that the standard data protection and GDPR rules still apply, so ensure your systems are compliant and your workforce understands their duties.
Communication and team dynamics
Helen White, CEO of Houseof, has mentioned that creativity is the heartbeat of any business, and it has always come from the face-to-face chemistry of the teams. However, we need to consider that the world is changing and find new ways to find solutions. The first step is to force the conversation. As a remote worker- it is convenient to become isolated- and isolation is rarely the best stimulant for creativity and innovation. As a result, we make a concentrated effort to emulate open interactions in the office and incorporate discourse into everything we do. Projects in organizations are divided among teams.
Moreover, We urge our employees to utilize their new environments to develop creative solutions. And we have opened up our problem-solving to the world around us, interacting with more organizations and individuals than ever before. Staff at Addition, a London-based financial services firm that helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), have been working from home, and the company has rented office space in the city.
No one is required to work at the office, but it is made sure that there are enough hot desk options in case any of the team members need a change of scenery. Instead of sitting at their desk for hours on end, it is all about flexible working hours and outcome-driven evaluations.
Final thoughts
Although hybrid working has increasing potential, it is still in its infancy. As communication technology such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom continue to evolve rapidly, it will likely become the standard for professionals and knowledge workers. Beyond these near-certainties, however, organizations and their employees are still figuring out how they can make hybrid working work for them. Sectors, work types, company sizes, locations, team dynamics, the personalities of employees, and domestic situations are all crucial factors to consider. Taking your time to develop working practices and policies, staying in close and constant communication with your teams, and staying up to date on the latest advice on the subject can help you make the hybrid working format work for your company.
Author Bio:
Deepali Daiya is a communication expert who excels in understanding customer needs. She writes powerful sales scripts and articles with very high conversion rates. Currently, she is associated with Sage Software Solutions, a leading distributor of high-quality ERP and CRM systems to small and mid-sized businesses in India.
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