Remember when a job meant spending eight hours confined in a cubicle, five days a week? The eight-hour schedule was what qualified as the bare minimum by many but thanks to the globalization of the corporate sector, businesses boomed, and soon the eight-hour window stretched to 12-hour or longer, resulting in an exhausted workforce.
Therefore, when the work-from-home culture came about — thanks to COVID-19 —many employees breathed a sigh of relief. Such was the impact of this trend; corporates and market leaders are considering a shift to what’s now called hybrid workplaces.
According to the latest Microsoft Work Trend Index, over 70 percent of employees have shown interest in continuing the flexible remote working long term. And more than 66 percent of corporations are considering redesigning their workplace model to accommodate a hybrid environment. It’s clear that hybrid work culture is here to stay, so let’s find out all about it.
Hybrid Workplace Explained
Hybrid workplaces are the best of both worlds. They offer employees the flexibility to work from their homes and also have in-person interaction with their team members as and when required. In such a workplace, the employee can visit the physical office whenever needed and work the rest of the days remotely.
Why Are Hybrid Workplaces Here To Stay?
If you are a small or medium-sized business, you can save a lot on operational costs by shifting to a hybrid workplace model. First, you need to develop your online presence with a curated website and have a business directory listing on websites like Bizify.
The business directory listing takes care of promotions, online networking, building your social media presence, improving your search engine rankings, and more. The whole system is designed to help small ideas become successful businesses.
With the stress of marketing out of the way, you can focus on what matters the most – your employees. As Microsoft Work Trend Index has already shown, a whopping 73 percent of employees want remote working options to stay. And as Erin L. Davis said, “A Happy Employee is a Productive Employee.”
Advantages of Hybrid Workplace Model
The above quote by Erin L. Davis is backed by research conducted by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School in collaboration with British multinational telecoms firm BT. The study showed that happy workers are 13 percent more productive.
With the cultural shift leaning towards hybrid work culture, 66 percent of market leaders are considering redesigning their office spaces for hybrid work. This will not only keep employees happy but has additional benefits as listed below.
Brings Down Operational Cost
One of the most significant advantages of shifting to a hybrid workplace is operational cost savings. Ask any business owner, and they’ll tell you how expensive it is to run an office from day to day.
By shifting to a hybrid work culture, companies can open up the possibility of moving to smaller spaces and save on rent, electricity, and other daily costs. These savings can be invested in something more pressing like marketing, equipment, and inventory, among others.
Enhances Productivity Amongst Employees
It’s already established that happy workers are productive workers, and with most employees asking for flexibility, you can be assured that shifting to the hybrid model will be beneficial.
Giving employees the option to do their jobs in a way best suitable for them will encourage them to get the work done as best as possible. Hybrid work culture not only promotes job satisfaction but also ensures accountability.
Promotes Work-Life Balance
The hybrid workplace also promotes a healthy work-life balance for employees. Having the flexibility to work according to their convenience allows workers to fit in quality time with friends and family in their schedule.
Additionally, the longer commute time to and from the office is eliminated, which leaves employees with enough time to work efficiently and also have time for themselves. This results in a satisfied and motivated employee.
Attract Talent Without Being Restricted by Borders
One of the essential advantages of the hybrid workplace is a larger talent pool. With a remote working setup in place, corporations are no longer restricted by borders and can hire talent from any part of the world.
There are many underrepresented groups, which bring a different set of skills to the table and may prove to be beneficial in the long run. Also, the fresh perspective that comes from a diverse talent pool may help the company discover a new opportunity to grow.
To summarise, the work-from-home culture is here to stay, and more companies will benefit from the hybrid workplace model hereon. To effectively transition, leadership must ensure that every employee has access to tools required to do their job better, reduce digital exhaustion, prioritize social capital, and draft a flexibility policy.
