6 Benefits of Implementing a Hybrid Work Model in an Organization

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the adoption of remote work on a large scale in many organizations. The results have been positive so far: employees have achieved a better work-life balance and can operate with the same (if not higher) productivity and efficiency.

However, this unexpected change has its own challenges. Companies are concerned that telecommuting will complicate team management and minimize their control over employee activities. It’s time to experiment with a hybrid work model, in which work is divided equally between remote and office.

What Is a Hybrid Work Model?

A hybrid work model streamlines work processes by combining office and remote employees, giving all employees the autonomy they need to work productively. For example, employees who work in product development departments who need access to specialized tools in the office, and those whose work simply requires an Internet-connected device can easily perform their work in a hybrid work environment.

Increasingly common remote work trends, such as ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) and ‘Choose Your Own Device’ (CYOD), are easily combined with a hybrid work model. Allowing employees to use their own devices, whether they work remotely or in the office, reduces IT costs. These policies can also improve productivity, as workers are more familiar with their own devices than those provided by the company.

BYOD and CYOD models allow employees to work from anywhere, anytime. However, it also presents security challenges that desktop virtualization solutions can address.

What Are the Top 6 Benefits of a Hybrid Work Model?

1) Better Collaboration and Labor Relations

Many organizations are better positioned to achieve true innovation if their employees can, at least part of the time, collaborate through face-to-face meetings in the same space. When all employees work from home and can only meet virtually, it can be more difficult for your company to innovate and prosper.

Traditional office work and face-to-face interactions facilitate collaboration. It allows employees to socialize with colleagues, chat during breaks, and share helpful ideas during informal in-person conversations to help them innovate. While remote work tools allow employees to interact with their colleagues, the interaction is not the same as in an office.

And while employees can solve problems together when working remotely, a lack of face-to-face interaction can make work relationships difficult. Real in-person contact allows employees to get closer to their colleagues and fosters deeper bonds, trust, commitment, and loyalty, leading to better collaboration and innovation.

Implementing a hybrid work model allows staff to get the best of both worlds. Employees can experience the benefits of collaborative relationships in person while having the opportunity to work remotely on tasks that require an individual approach.

2) Better Work-life Balance

Work-life balance is a vital aspect of any healthy work environment. It helps prevent burnout and minimizes stress, which can negatively affect employees’ mental well-being and lead to physical ailments.

An organization that prioritizes work-life balance maintains a healthier and more productive workforce and saves money. A hybrid work model fits the bill perfectly, striking this balance by giving employees the option of working both remotely and in the office.

With a hybrid model, the workforce can better balance their personal lives with their job responsibilities. When working from home, employees can structure their day to use breaks for essential things, like taking the kids to school or going to a doctor’s appointment. This allows them to stay on top of their daily life, which can lead to better concentration and focus when they are working.

3) Higher Productivity

Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, early studies suggested that remote working could improve productivity. A recent report from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows that more than half of managers believe their teams are even more productive working remotely.

Productivity gains arise from three sources: greater flexibility, greater concentration on work, and reduced absenteeism. Remote working allows for greater flexibility, as employees can work from anywhere and at any time.

On an individual level, remote work can minimize the distractions associated with an office. Co-worker interruptions, which can be a leading cause of lost time, are lower, helping employees focus on tasks that require more dedicated attention.

Remote work can also reduce absenteeism due to increased commitment. For example, employees can continue to work even if they have a cold or other minor health problem, rather than having to take a full day off to avoid going to the office.

4) Wider Talent Pools

When it comes to recruiting, an organization employing a hybrid work model can choose local talent or source from a global workforce.

By now, most employees have experienced the benefits of remote working first-hand, such as reduced commuting and a better work-life balance. A recent McKinsey survey shows that 80% of the people surveyed report that they enjoy working from home. Many have gotten used to it by now and are therefore more likely to apply to companies with flexible workplaces in the future.

Organizations that employ hybrid work models can attract more skilled and diverse employees across multiple geographies than those without.

Hybrid work policies can also lead to lower churn rates. When employees feel they have a poor work-life balance, they may feel unmotivated and decide to leave the company. In contrast, a hybrid-working model is great for achieving a better balance. When employees are happy and satisfied with the organization they work for, they become loyal and stay longer.

5) Greater Trust between Companies and Employees

One of the most important (and difficult to nurture) aspects of a healthy and productive work environment is trust between companies, managers and employees. A hybrid work model helps workers gain the trust of managers by allowing them to demonstrate that they are just as productive, if not more, working remotely than when they are in the office.

Additionally, staff members who feel trusted and respected are more likely to stay engaged at work and with the company longer. Lower overall turnover rates have significant benefits, including lower sourcing, recruiting, hiring, onboarding and training costs and increased employee knowledge and skills, contributing to the long-term success of your business.

6) Better Visibility of Employee Performance

Employee performance is crucial to overall organizational success as it enables managers to determine potential strengths, mistakes, and gaps that require attention. Hybrid work environments generally employ the use of more shared technology and collaboration platforms, allowing employees to seamlessly combine office work and remote work. These platforms allow managers to easily view employee activity on various tasks so they can get a clearer picture of what everyone is doing.

Organizations must learn to manage remote work environments amid the uncertainties of today and prepare for the unexpected territory that tomorrow’s hybrid work models will bring. When implemented correctly, a hybrid work model can allow companies to maximize the benefits of working in the office and remotely.

Also, one aspect that is essential to the success of a hybrid work model is having the right technology so that employees can access what they need to be productive.