It is not surprising that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many ways in which people move, starting with how they change their lifestyle, how they collaborate remotely, and how they experience changes in work habits, including switching from what was previously done face-to-face to completely with the virtual concept (hybrid working).
Work from Home (WFH) became a popular buzzword among office employees in early 2020. The government’s Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) at the time required all of us to exercise social distance by working from home to limit the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, long-term WFH adoption causes employee burnout, which might jeopardize productivity.
WFH, on the other hand, is no longer a daily driver for employees this year since the virus’s spread has begun to slow. With the loosening of regulations limiting physical distance meetings, many companies are now allowing their employees to return to work in the office.
Even so, returning employees to their office amid the current pandemic is not a viable option for being productive. A strategy for maintaining productivity is essential for a counterbalance, which entails implementing hybrid working that blend work schedules from home, the office, and everywhere at the same time.
According to Forbes, the shift in employee work habits over the last two years has resulted in a hybrid working pattern that may replace traditional work models. When the pandemic is over, 73 percent of employees polled stated they would want to work from anyplace (office, home, or elsewhere). Microsoft 2021 research, interestingly reveals that 66 percent of the organizations polled want to convert their office space to a mobile office with hybrid technology support.
Then, what are the aspects that businesses must plan for to properly adopt hybrid working? Is there a specific approach? Is it likely to acquire both challenges and benefits of hybrid working? Is it possible to use specific tools to create a powerful hybrid working environment? To find out more, read this story.
What Is Hybrid Working?
Hybrid working is a flexible working model that integrates the concept of remote working, allowing employees to work from the office, their homes, or other locations.
According to the Accenture study, 58% of respondents admitted to implementing hybrid working by 2021. The benefits perceived were improved mental health, better and more effective work collaboration, with a reduced feeling of burnout. Meanwhile, 83% of respondents feel that the hybrid working model will be a major trend in the future.
Effective Ways to Implement Hybrid Working
There are at least four aspects that businesses must consider to properly implement hybrid working.
Make Policies and Procedures Clearly
Companies need to develop clear and orderly policies and work procedures, such as how rules will be implemented (attendance and permissions) and ensuring that all employees understand their responsibilities in adopting this new work model.
Open Communication
Employees who work in the office and those who work outside the office must be able to communicate with each other in a directional manner. They can use on specific, well-received communication tools such as Slack, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams.
Familiarize with Trainings
Hybrid working will introduce new standards to the workplace, as well as several new technologies that employees may not have utilized previously. Companies must provide special training for their employees to familiarize them with a variety of sophisticated hybrid working technologies.
Ensure Employees Have Proper Tools
Companies must also ensure that their employees have the tools they need to support their hybrid working activities, enabling work from anywhere to run smoothly without technical issues.
Challenges of Hybrid Working
The deployment of hybrid working creates a number of challenges. If these obstacles are not properly resolved, the company would struggle to manage their remote employees.
Network Issues
Many employees who work remotely will have trouble connecting to the internet network. This will certainly disrupt their work processes, particularly if they wish to have virtual meetings or access documents online. As a result, it is critical for employees to maintain excellent network connections to work remotely effectively.
Distractions
Working from anywhere gives employees freedom, especially if they work from a restaurant or other place that sparks their creativity. However, this might be quite challenging since they will be distracted and not focus on completing the task in the allotted time.
Cultural Changes
The shift in work habits has also resulted in a massive cultural shift for employees, particularly senior employees who are already acclimated to the attitude that ‘work must be conducted in the office’. To encourage them, the company must offer a choice where they may continue to work from the office, or choose to try new things working from anywhere with advantages that are clearly achieved.
Read More: How Can Connected Enterprise Help You Build A Customer-Centric Business?
Hybrid Working: Benefits for Companies and Employees
After the challenges, time to explore the advantages of hybrid working that will be benefiting for both company and employees.
Attracting New Talent
Many new young talents are increasingly looking for organizations that implement hybrid working, which means that the Human Resources will reap the benefits of this trend. For them, it’s a plus if they’re looking for job at a company that embraces the concept of remote work.
Happier and More Productive
A hybrid work environment naturally improves productivity and boosts employee happiness. They will be able to better manage their work-life balance and their physical and emotional wellbeing as a result of this initiative.
Company Reputation
By embracing hybrid working, the company will have a better reputation in the eyes of new employees and candidates since they are perceived to have a progressive and flexible culture that promotes a healthier work environment.
Cost Saving
The company no longer needs to worry about electricity and other expenses since half of its employees work remotely. This is unquestionably one of the most tangible advantages since they will be able to save money on other bills as a result of this shift.
Elevate Your Digital Business with CTI Group
Now that you’ve learned about hybrid working in this article, it’s time for your business to drive digital transformation to a new level by completely implementing this concept.
From our 13 subsidiaries, CTI Group has more than 100 world-class IT brands, as well as the support of more than 250 experienced certified engineers who will be available to assist you in the implementation of your IT solution around the clock. Contact us at marketing@computradetech.com for more information about CTI Group.
