Since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, many organizations shifted to offering remote work options to their employees. But now, as organizations consider if and how to return to the office, many organizations are finding that a hybrid work model best meets their needs.
So what is a hybrid work model?
Unlike the traditional expectation that required employees to be in-person in the office 5 days each week, a hybrid model introduces some flexibility and follows a schedule where employees are in-person only part time, with the remaining work days being remote.
Why choose a hybrid model?
Hybrid work models offer many benefits to both organizations and their employees. Below we’ve outlined five of the most compelling reasons for organizations to adopt a hybrid work model:
Reduced Costs
Employees working from home means that companies often spend less on operating costs. From reduced utility costs to a reduction in office supply expenses, organizations can save a good amount of money by implementing a hybrid model.
But organizations aren’t the only ones who experience savings– employees who no longer have to commute to the office 5 days a week save too! Most noticeable is a reduction in commuting costs, as employees aren’t having to pay for as much fuel or put as much wear and tear on their vehicles. Those employees who use public transportation to commute also save on fare expenses.
Increased Employee Efficiency and Productivity
With a hybrid work situation, employees can better divide their tasks between team tasks and individual/independent tasks. Team tasks can be tackled on the days employees are in the office, whereas the individual tasks can be done on the day employees work from home. This often improves employee focus and productivity, since task organization is streamlined.
Also, it's been found that when employees work from home, they often end up putting in more hours in their workday. The time they used to spend commuting to the office is now spent focusing on projects and tasks.
Maintains Health and Safety
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many organizations are putting in the effort to be much more aware of employee health and safety. With a hybrid work situation, employees spend less time in-person. This translates to fewer opportunities for illness to spread and more opportunity for a deep, thorough cleaning of workspaces.
For companies who follow a hybrid model where their employees’ days in the office are staggered, there are fewer people in the workplace at a time. This means it’s easier for employees to maintain social distancing guidelines and work or meet in smaller groups.
Improved Work-Life Balance
Employees who are able to work with a more flexible schedule often report that they feel they’re able to better maintain their work-life balance. Many employees report that a 100% remote work plan makes it difficult to maintain proper work-life balance; employees working remotely often begin work before their scheduled time, work through their lunch, and continue to check-in with work throughout their evening and on weekends.
With a hybrid work model, employees have designated days where their work schedule is better defined; they only work during the time they are in the office.
Balance of Interpersonal Time
Employees working in a fully-remote situation often report feeling isolated and as though they lack the teamwork and camaraderie of an in-person work situation. Conversely, employees who are in the office 5 days a week may feel as though they are constantly being interrupted by coworkers or like they’re always having someone watching and monitoring them.
A hybrid work situation combines the best of both worlds– employees have the opportunity to work in person and develop interpersonal relationships with their coworkers, however they also have quiet, independent time at home to work.
How do you know if a hybrid work model is best for your organization?
Determining whether or not a hybrid work model is appropriate for your organization requires some analysis. You may need to survey employees at various levels within the organization in order to gather information about how to best meet their needs. You may also have to look at your organization’s mission and ensure that implementing a hybrid model will continue to allow your employees to work toward your mission and goals.
If you’re ready to get started, you can download a copy of our Hybrid Work Survey Question Menu. This list of questions will be a great place for you to start as you put together a survey for your employees.
Need some help with this process? Reach out to us today to discuss the ways Cause Capacity can support you with this process!
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