Why are so many businesses opting for a hybrid working model?
The pandemic pretty much changed the working world forever. Many offices were forced to adapt to a working-from-home model, and once restrictions were lifted – a large portion didn’t feel the need to return to the office full time. This caused a huge influx in businesses adopting a hybrid working model.
Hybrid working did exist prior to the pandemic, but most companies didn’t offer it until afterwards due to the lack of awareness of the benefits it can implicate.
Organisations are now experimenting with variations of the hybrid model – not only to meet consumer demand and avoid high staff turnover, but also due to factors such as increased employee productivity and office overhead costs.
Envo April 2022 survey showed that 77% of companies have already opted to go hybrid in some form, and 56% of those companies are allowing employees to choose when and how often they wish to come into the office. Hybrid working offers employees freedom that was once unheard of in the corporate world.
WHAT IS HYBRID WORKING?
Hybrid working is a flexible approach between office working, and at-home working. In many cases, it also implies flexibility of working hours in order to adapt to personal preferences and the general unpredictability of people’s lives. This can essentially mean that employees can choose their working hours as long as this means they complete all work that is required.
The beauty of hybrid working is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all model. It can be tailored to suit the individual needs of every business and individual.
Our finance director, Marc describes it as “a great balanced model which allows both the employee and employer flexibility. It also improves employee engagement when the team is together on the office days”.
ADVANTAGES OF HYBRID WORKING
Work-life balance
People have real-life problems and personal implications, and it’s important for employers to acknowledge and consider these. Employees who have children often appreciate the option to work flexibly. This allows freedom to do the school run when necessary, for example. Those with pets are able to take them out for walks during the day, too, on days when working from home.
Our recruitment executive, Yasmin, is a working mother who comments “when you don’t waste your time or energy in traffic, you’d be able to use that time for your kid. Cooking her favourite dish, doing some activities with her such as reading books and playing games. I can also spend more time with my husband who works hybrid by working in the same room, chatting and sharing lunch breaks together.”
Control over work hours and work location
Adults like having control and freedom over their working arrangements – 87% of employees would take the chance to work more flexibly if their employers offered it, according to McKinsey. It’s beneficial for both the employer, and the employees, for team members to find conditions in which they work most effectively.
Higher productivity
When in the office every day, employees are often expected to be productive between the hours 9-5pm, however this isn’t always the best time for people to work. Allowing flexible hours and locations can improve productivity. Some people may work best in a lively cafe environment, whereas others may prefer a quiet library-style setting. Then, there’s the people who thrive in the office. Everybody is different – which is why freedom and flexibility is key.
More efficient use of time
By reducing time spent commuting, the time can be invested into completing work tasks instead. The number of commuters is increasing every year – with Statista sharing that in 2022, 32% of working adults have a daily commute of 15-29 minutes, and 28% spend over 30 minutes per day commuting.
Less work burnout or fatigue
Some find it physically and emotionally draining when it is mandatory to go into the office daily. This can be especially enhanced for those who have longer commute times, so having the opportunity to avoid this is beneficial.
Overall satisfaction
Wakefield Research shows that 47% of employees would likely look for another job if their employer doesn’t offer a hybrid working model. When employees are satisfied, this often reflects on their quality of work and the morale of their team.
CHALLENGES OF HYBRID WORKING
Having the right tools
At-home working set-ups must be suited to the employee, both for physical ergonomic comfort, and also to provide a productive work environment with as little distraction as possible. Some are at a disadvantage due to economic factors as the costs of living and bills are on the rise, so being able to take advantage of heating and electricity in the office can make a big difference.
Oak Engage calculated that the cost of running a router, PC, and cooking lunch at home cost £108 annually in 2022, compared to just £41 in 2021.
Potential disconnection
Working from home can cause people to feel disconnected from the company’s culture, and it also can decrease team collaboration which in turn can impair relationships.
Our operations manager, Chris, comments “It’s important to see the team regularly in the office to let the ideas flow. Having more access to the people you work with as opposed to just over Slack or email is a lot better and more efficient for getting your ideas across. It’s good for your mental health as well. Having that interaction is really important.”
Team relations
Scheduling meetings can prove difficult with hybrid working, when considering others’ schedules. This is not so much of an issue moving forward, though, due to the availability of e-meetings and platforms like Slack, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Risk of work burnout
Yes, work burnout is a potential risk when working fully in the office, but it’s also a risk when working more remotely depending on the person. Not only can working from home decrease productivity due to more distractions, but it can also blur the lines between work and rest – leading people to take less breaks and working more hours than needed.
According to Monster, over 69% of employees are showing symptoms of workplace burnout due to remote work. Hence, it’s important that people find the balance that works for them.
Not suited for all industries
Some industries such as nursing, teaching, manufacturing and construction can not operate under a hybrid model as their work duties cannot be completed anywhere other than on-site.
HOW TO BE SMART WITH HYBRID WORKING
When in the office, you can spend your time effectively by:
- Taking advantage of the opportunity to collaborate
- Using resources that aren’t available at home such as laptop and desktop setups
- Building relationships with the team and getting to know them better
- Requesting feedback and talk-throughs from management
When working from home, you can spend your time effectively by:
- Completing independent tasks which require focus and minimal distractions
- Utilising breaks and time saved commuting to exercise, see loved ones, tend to children, complete chores and walk pets
IS HYBRID WORKING THE FUTURE?
Hybrid working models are increasingly becoming adopted by businesses across all sectors – with no signs of slowing down. By recognising the undeniable benefits of this way of working, businesses can increase employee productivity and satisfaction, decrease employee turnover and lower overhead costs. However, certain industries such as teaching and construction cannot be penetrated by the hybrid working model.
HYBRID WORKING AT FLOWD
At Flowd, we like to give our team the flexibility and freedom to utilise a hybrid approach where it works for them – whilst providing them with a comfortable office environment which they can utilise any day of the week.
Each employee is given the choice of which days they work in the office depending on what works for them.
For example – our operations manager, Chris, prefers to come into the office 3-4 days a week in order to avoid “slipping into bad habits and getting too comfortable at home”. In contrast, our growth manager, Joe, comes into the office 2 days a week due to long commute times.
It’s important that each of our employees’ needs are individually tailored to because each person thrives in a different environment.
