Is the Hybrid Working Model Needed in 2022?

Companies are increasingly realizing the benefits of implementing hybrid working cultures. They offer many benefits, such as flexibility with both full-time and part-time schedules, telecommuting options for employees and the ability to work from home offices. This way of working is more than just a trend - it's a practice that caters to the needs of today's workforce.

So if you’re wondering whether this is the right approach for your business, keep on reading. In this article, I will take a look at the definition of hybrid work and its benefits on your business and employees so you can define whether it’s the right choice for you.

What is a hybrid working culture?

The companies that are proving that the traditional work culture no longer serves its purpose in today's society. With our technological advancements, flexible time is not only possible but also encouraged, something that wasn't available for older generations before us. By instituting a hybrid work method, these companies are able to attract top-notch talent while making employees happier with their overall work and life balance.

Simply put, a hybrid work method is when employees are able to work remotely or use flexible hours in order to accommodate their personal needs.

Why implement this type of culture in your company

The most essential factor in the success of any business, no matter the niche, is to be ahead of the times. And it’s safe to say that anyone who does not already use the hybrid work method is quite behind.

The concept is not new and there have been available technology to implement it for almost a decade now. Still, some companies don’t put in the effort in researching the possibilities, leaving them with a lot of doubts, both reasonable and not, that prevent them from stepping into the future.

The most common excuse is diminished levels of productivity - something that’s been studied by multiple professionals and to be honest, the opinions are very mixed. An open debate at the MIT SMR Strategy Forum shows all the different viewpoints.

While there are many supporters and people that are not able to provide a stable answer, it’s clear that most experts are rather optimistic about the future of a more relaxed working environment.

I strongly recommend that you take a look at their arguments in the original article but if you want the TLDR, you can just continue reading while I take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of hybrid working.

The pros and cons of hybrid work on employees and employer

There are many advantages of the hybrid working culture both for the business and the people working. Let’s take a closer look.

Advantages of hybrid work

For employees

Hybrid working gives people the opportunity to organize their work around their lives and not the other way around.

• Flexibility: Instead of having to commute an hour before an 8-hour day at an office, employees can get all their work done in half the time while still making it home by 6 pm. More free time and less money spent on gas or public transport is definitely an advantage for everyone, not just the employees.
• More job opportunities: If remote work is included as an option in a company, young professionals and experts of all ages are able to find a suitable position without having to worry about relocation. Not everyone has the opportunity to switch cities or countries because of a job, mostly because of financial reasons, but often because of their family.
• Dealing with emergencies: In case of a personal emergency, employees can pause their workday and deal with the issue right away. Usually, in a normal working office environment, it’s quite difficult to quickly react to emergency situations because of the different processes they need to go through before they’re allowed to leave.
• Opportunities for students: Students that need extra funding can now start a well-paying job while still managing their studies. Especially now, when a lot of university and similar courses are completed online, a person can further their education and career path from their home without much effort.
• Diverse schedule: A diverse schedule and the possibility of a more relaxed attendance keep people away from falling into a monotonous routine. Many people can lose their sense of purpose if they live a highly repetitive lifestyle, where every day is the same.
• Mental health benefits: Significantly lower stress levels, because of the increased free time and opportunities to take care of their personal health - both physical and mental. Many people stated that working from home at least 3 days per week, allowed them to start working out more or come back to old hobbies.

For employers

A lot of the advantages for employers are quite similar to the ones workers enjoy but from a slightly different perspective. Let’s take a look.

• Flexibility: Being flexible allows recruiters and business owners to create a healthy working environment that will retain their employees and keep them loyal to the cause. According to many studies, the top reasons employees stay with a company are the feeling of being understood and heard, as well as a good relationship with the management staff.
• Money savings: Your business can save a lot of money by transferring to a smaller office space that will accommodate only a certain amount of people - usually the ones that need special equipment to work that they don’t have at home, such as designers. This also means lower electricity and water bills, office supplies and much more.
• Employee retention and low turnover rates: Not only will you keep high-quality professionals working for you but you will also become an attractive workplace for potential future employees.
• Increased productivity levels: In all honesty, if someone wants to slack from work, they will find a way to do it in the office. Honest and hardworking employees will be honest and hardworking no matter where they are - home or on-site. But if you do offer them the chance to choose, they can organize their workflow a lot better.

Disadvantages of the hybrid work method

To every coin, there are two sides, and flexible working culture is not an exception. Here are some things you need to consider before switching your company policies.

• Less social interaction: While the hybrid working method does allow people to go to the office whenever they want to, the social interaction is still considerably less than usual. In some cases, that’s good, because there’s less distraction from colleagues. However, most of the time, employees have reported that the main reason they miss going to the office is their colleagues. They can’t go to lunch together or have a random conversation in the bathroom and these little things have a great impact on how people percept their workplace. 
• Feeling excluded: Naturally, lack of communication and working from home can lead to workers feeling excluded from many things and decreasing their engagement with other employees. This applies specifically to people that mostly work from home or are fully remote. Having a hybrid working model means that there will be people that will choose to stay in the office because they can, while others will have to split those days and miss out on on-site events.
• Not having the right working conditions at home: This includes the right equipment, as well as a fast internet connection. Employers might have to provide their workers with PC or laptop computers, printers or whatever else they might need to do their job the same way they do in the office. Another thing is that many people don’t have a separate room they can use as office space and have to accommodate their living or kitchen area. This isn’t always ideal as they would have other family members using the same rooms constantly and the chairs are not always the best ones.
• Investing in remote work technology: At the beginning, employers will have to go through many different remote work software options so they can choose the best ones for their employees and business. This adjustment period is sometimes a bit hard, especially for people that are not used to working remotely, reporting their tasks regularly, etc.

It’s important to note that the abovementioned disadvantages oftentimes do not outweigh the benefits. If you establish trust and clear communication policies, neither the transition nor the implementation of this flexible working model will be hard on you or your employees.

Likewise, lack of communication and bad planning can ruin your chances of taking your company to the next level. Make sure you create an actionable plan that includes everyone, not just the high management. Be prepared that there will be an adjustment period when not everything is going to be smooth, but chances are that you will see the payoff very soon.

Stepping into the future

While there are some disadvantages to hybrid work policies, the pros generally outweigh them. Before making the switch, it’s important to consider all the potential consequences and plan accordingly. With careful communication and organization, transitioning your company to a hybrid model can be a great success.