How to Prepare for a Successful Transition from Traditional to a Hybrid Work Environment
With work becoming remote, workplace culture has undergone a 360-degree transformation. This rapid change has compelled numerous organizations across the globe to synchronize their work among various scattered teams. Old office
work policies are no longer relevant. They are finding it difficult to repurpose these work policies in the new work ecosystem. That is why a hybrid work culture is necessary. The combination of working from home and the office partly means work policies need to be molded to fit into the new hybrid model.
To prepare for a successful transition from traditional workplace policies to a hybrid work environment, organizations must dive deep and evaluate their ways of working, their workplace culture, the way they track performance, and the initiatives they have in place for employee engagement.
Why Does a Hybrid Work Policy Matter?
A hybrid working policy is a flexible work model that has been designed to meet the needs of both employers and employees. With an added emphasis on creating a work-life balance today, coupled with the need to work remotely, a hybrid work policy is the answer to creating future-ready workplaces.
Organizations have started discovering numerous benefits of a hybrid working policy. Not only do employees get more time to spend more time with their families, but it also eliminates the hassle of commuting every day. On the other hand, companies can save rental costs on expensive office spaces and witness an increase in productivity by enabling remote work and maximizing work hours.
There are different ways of implementing a hybrid work policy. Employers can, for example, create an open office space or allow part-time work schedules for employees to balance their personal and professional lives. Another way of implementing a hybrid work policy is by allowing flexi work hours so that working parents can take care of their children without having to fret about their scheduled work timings.
The Benefits of Hybrid Work Policies for Employees and Employers
While the traditional workplace has its own set of benefits, it falls short in some areas. For instance, recruiters are geographically limited when it comes to hiring talent. They have to restrict themselves to a particular geographical area and, therefore, have limited access to highly talented candidates. Additionally, they have to compete with other organizations in terms of the salaries they are offering, benefits, and other perks.
“Remote working, digitization in processes, and workflow automation are all going to be a part and parcel of everyday non-traditional workspace, and entrepreneurs who go with this flow will definitely see great success.”
- Ravi Kikan, Director Marketing, Online Sales & Growth at ZingHR
A hybrid work model can provide the following benefits to employers:
Improves Access to Skilled Labor
Organizations that adopt a hybrid work policy don’t have to be geographically restricted. In a survey conducted in 2019 by the International Workplace Group, 32% stated that a flexible work location was more important to them than a prestigious designation within the company. On the other hand, 83% of the global respondents said that work location was the major deciding factor if they wanted to take that job. This also facilitates creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Cost-effective Work Setups
Organizations can enjoy reduced office operational costs due to hybrid work policies. They can negotiate better office spaces at lower rental costs. They can also make flexible work arrangements in a smaller space, further driving down office rentals.
Better Benefits
With a reduction in overhead costs, organizations can choose to transfer the benefits to employees by providing better perks and compensation packages. This ensures they are more competitive in their industry and attract more candidates.
Increased Productivity
Flexible working hours with the ability to balance work and life are proven to impact productivity positively. According to a survey conducted by Stanford over a period of nine months, it has been reported to increase productivity by almost 13%. It also helps to engage employees, which further leads to a boost in total productivity.
A hybrid work culture is a win-win for both employers and employees. It can help employees work better and have more control over their job duties. Here are some of the advantages to employees:
Flexibility
Flexibility is the most significant advantage of hybrid work policies for employees. They can plan their working hours to be more effective and help employees work during their most productive hours. This ensures that all employees are working at their optimum level. It has been observed that working from home substantially reduces absenteeism.
Zero Commute Time
Not having to commute to the office saves a lot of time. Employees can dedicate more time to their well-being and things that matter. Saving commute time can improve productivity to a great extent. It helps in balancing work and life as they can spend some quality time with their families and loved ones.
More Career Opportunities
As more and more companies adopt complete remote hybrid work policies, job seekers are no longer restricted to applying for jobs in their specific locations. With the world opening virtually, candidates can explore more possibilities and growth in their careers.
Conclusion: Preparing Your Organization for Future Change with Flexible Working Policies
The future of work will continue to evolve because technology has fundamentally changed the way we work. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working continued to be accepted across the tech world. Today, it has become the norm across industries. The definition of work has also changed, with people preferring to do more creative, project-based work. And if businesses want to attract and maintain their top talent, they will need to think about what they can do to be more flexible in their policies.
Some businesses are already making changes in their workplace to prepare for this future. They are changing their traditional 9-5 culture, which is restrictive and outdated in today’s world, into a more modern hybrid work model with flexible working hours and a hybrid working culture. For instance, major tech companies have become flag bearers for permanent remote work. Facebook announced that about 50% of its 45,000-strong workforce could go remote in the next 5 to 10 years.
Change is the only constant, and if businesses are to succeed in this ever-changing environment, they must adopt a flexible approach. The new hybrid work culture has proven to be an effective way of managing workdays. It is a combination of onsite and remote working, which provides employees with more freedom in their work schedule. This freedom leads to
higher productivity and happier employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the challenges of the hybrid work culture?
A significant challenge is that it takes time to adjust to this new kind of work culture. Employees might feel like they are missing out on part of the process and social dynamics by not being able to physically be at their workplace. Hybrid work cultures are also difficult for companies because it's hard to predict what the future will look like and how this transition will affect them long-term.
What are some of the benefits of the hybrid work model?
Some advantages that come along with this hybrid work model are less absenteeism, improved health, reduced overhead costs, and improved productivity.