What exactly is a hybrid work model?
Hybrid work is a people-first approach to workforce management that encourages higher productivity and job satisfaction while addressing remote work's primary issues, such as isolation and a lack of community. Employees with a hybrid work paradigm have additional freedom and the ability to work from home or anywhere they can be productive. The workplace is no longer contained within the four walls of the corporate office; instead, it is an ecosystem of employees working from home, coworking spaces, and the office. Team members can move between places based on the work that has to be done.
Depending on the organisation and the sort of work being done, the hybrid work paradigm can take several shapes.
What are the different kinds of hybrid work models?
The four most popular hybrid work models are as follows:
1. A versatile hybrid work model
Employees select their work location and hours based on their daily priorities. For example, if they need to concentrate on a project, they can work from home or in a coffee shop. They can go into the workplace if they desire a sense of community, need to meet with their team, attend a training session, or participate in a town hall. Cisco is utilising this concept by allowing its employees to choose where they work on any given day.
Benefits:
Allows individuals the freedom and flexibility to choose where and when they work. Establishes a trust-based connection with employees, which enhances loyalty and job satisfaction.
Increases the talent pool, resulting in more diversified thinking
Improves the bottom line by saving money on office space and travel.
Challenges:
Employees struggle to find an appropriate day or time for in-person teamwork.
Lack of visibility into how many people are coming to the office on any given day and whether the building can accommodate them.
2. Fixed hybrid work structure
The organisation determines which days and times workers may work remotely or in the office. For example, certain teams may come into the office on Mondays and Wednesdays, while others may come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Alternatively, an organisation could allow everyone to work from home on certain days of the week. American Express is an example of a company that has implemented a fixed hybrid work model.
Benefits:
Increases the likelihood of in-person collaboration and team building
Allows employees to book appointments or do small errands on specific days of the week.
Allows you to simply forecast office capacity.
Challenges:
Lack of individual choice, which may result in lost productivity if employees are not in the best environment for the task that needs to be done.
Impossibility of reducing office space
3. The hybrid office-first work model
Employees are expected to remain on-site but have the option to work remotely a few days each week. Google intends to implement a model in which employees work in the office three days a week but can work remotely the other two.
Benefits:
Allows for flexibility and personal preference
Contributes to the preservation of company culture and community
Challenges:
Employees have little visibility into who will be in the workplace and when.
Inability to predict how many employees will be in the workplace on any particular day.
4. Work-from-home hybrid model
Employees work from home the most of the time, with just brief excursions to coworking spaces or the office for team building, collaboration, and training. The organisation may not have an office location in this model and instead rely on team members in the local region to meet together when they see fit. Twitter has embraced a remote-first philosophy, allowing all workers to work from home.
Benefits:
Improves productivity and job satisfaction for employees who prefer to work from home the majority of the time.
Allows for cost savings by lowering or eliminating office space Challenges:
Employees may experience feelings of isolation.
Increased difficulties in preserving the company culture and community
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