During the coronavirus pandemic, many people all around the world were forced to work from home. As restrictions are starting to ease, some people are headed straight back into the office. However, some businesses are opting for a ‘hybrid work’ model.
Here a handful of reasons why a ‘hybrid work’ model could be the future of the workplace.
Flexibility for employees to work from home or the office
A hybrid office model allows employees the flexibility to work from wherever they want, whenever they want. Some workers might decide to work from home or the office full time, whereas others might switch between the two.
To accommodate fluctuating onsite staffing numbers, many businesses are considering the switch to a flexible workspace. Flexible workspaces have the flexibility for one to 1,000 desks on a one month rolling contract, so that you only pay for what you use.
Allows parents to balance work and childcare
Many working parents who worked a 9-5 before the pandemic have had to face the struggle of organising childcare after school hours. However, though working from home during the pandemic might have been difficult for some when they have a child, others might have gained a better work life balance.
In fact, the very government definition of flexible working is a working structure that is adapted to suit your personal needs, “so you can juggle childcare, see more of your kids and still get to work”. Therefore, flexibility in working practices, as demonstrated by the hybrid office model, can allow parents to better juggle work and childcare.
Better collaboration
It is a very real possibility in a hybrid office that one person from the team might be in the office and the others at home, or vice versa. For this reason, hybrid working forces people to get better at communication and collaboration.
According to Microsoft, the time spent on weekly video calls has increased 45% per person and weekly video meeting times have more than doubled since the beginning of 2020. By facilitating dialogue between colleagues, this can lead to a whole host of benefits for your business.
Increased productivity
One of the benefits of improved collaboration is increased productivity. This is because hybrid working fosters a culture of clear communication, problem solving, and working together despite geographical boundaries.
Hybrid working also allows employees to play to their strengths, working in the environment that best suits their individual needs. Whilst some prefer peace and quiet, others might thrive in the buzz of an office setting. This allows employees to reach their full potential, thus increasing productivity.
Improved mental health
Getting the right work-life balance can not only improve your day-to-day working life, but also improve your life outside of work. In fact, finding the right work-life balance is vital for creating a healthy working environment.
As hybrid working allows for greater flexibility, and employees to work wherever and however they feel most comfortable, this allows workers the opportunity to strike a better work-life balance. Over time, this can greatly improve overall mental health and wellbeing.
And there you have it – a few reasons why a ‘hybrid work’ model could be the future of the workplace. When properly considered, planned, and implemented, hybrid working has the potential to revolutionize your business practices.
