With so many companies realizing that brick and mortar offices are becoming less of a norm, how does one contend with the complexities of a hybrid workplace?
Pre-COVID people mostly worked in the office and employees generally liked the office culture, events, collaboration and sharing of ideas and information, however, there were challenges with office space not accommodating growth of staff, difficulty in providing meeting/quiet space and additional distractions from co-workers that decreased productivity.
Now, introducing the newest work model. As businesses start opening their doors again to on-site work, some are offering a hybrid work model. This is a middle ground between 100% work in-office (WFO) and 100% work-from-home (WFH). Just like working from the office work model, the hybrid work model has it’s challenges such as managing mixed physical and virtual attendance, communication, keeping work visible and the effect of unconscious bias.
The primary goal when moving to a hybrid work model is to find a solution for how employees work and not where they work. Managers need to enable teams to work together, innovate and get the job done while creating an environment that fosters a sense of purpose, progress and belonging among employees.
Managers need to leverage what has been learned about remote and office work so as to preserve as much as possible of the positive aspects of both work models.
In order to accomplish that, business owners and managers need to consider what the advantages are of being remote and in-person, how the team works together, infrastructure, perks, benefits, pay and location.
It’s recommended that business owners and managers devise a strategy for creating a new employee classification around workplace status, the possibility of implementing a work-from-anywhere (WFA) option, determining how much of in-person collaboration is necessary, creating standard hours for meetings and flexibility for work-life balance. Managers are also urged to collaborate with staff in creating this strategy.
When it’s time to implement the program, managers should learn and foster a growth mindset, give and listen to feedback, be intentional, have grit, and embrace the journey as this is not a temporary thing, it is becoming the new norm.
Source: Bonusly & Guru – Strategizing for the Future of Hybrid Work