What is a Hybrid Workplace? Why is it Important?

Before 2020, working meant going to the office. But the definition of work changed drastically post that. The pandemic brought in-person meeting restrictions and health safety concerns, pushing companies to adopt remote working. 

After a year of remote work, employers realized that employees were productive in a remote work setting but faced communication issues. Hence, once the pandemic restrictions were lifted, they started calling employees back to work in a hybrid workplace.  

Read on to find out all you must know about the hybrid workplace.

What is a Hybrid Workplace?

A hybrid workplace is one wherein employers allow employees to work from the office on a few days and work remotely on the rest. It offers employees the flexibility to choose their work location for a few days while providing them the structure of in-office work on the others.

Since all employees do not arrive at the office everyday, employee seating and daily work requirements are not the same. Besides, since employees work asynchronously, communication is a barrier too.

Hence, an ideal hybrid office is dynamic and prioritizes employee communication without sacrificing an office’s work culture.

Why is a Hybrid Workplace Important?

A 2021 report from Accenture revealed that over 63% of high-revenue earning companies were embracing the hybrid work model. Let us see why the hybrid workplace is important. 

1. To Increase Productivity

The hybrid workplace allows employees to work from wherever they feel most productive. For some, it might be home, while for others it might be a quiet office space.

Besides, the hybrid work setup facilitates various forms of team collaboration for effective working. For instance, if the team is not at the office, a hybrid office facilitates virtual communication. But if the team is coming to the office, a hybrid office also provides the optimal environment for productive brainstorming.

Thus, the hybrid workplace improves the in-office productivity of employees.

2. To Increase Job Satisfaction

Employees can decide their work location in a hybrid setup. It gives them a sense of autonomy. But the link between flexibility and job satisfaction does not end there.

A hybrid workplace also offers employees a chance at work-life balance, thanks to flexible schedules. When employees complete their assigned tasks they can easily pursue their personal goals. They can even plan their work around priorities like children, family, etc.

3. To Promote Mental Health

Working remotely makes it difficult to have sustained interaction with coworkers. This makes it harder to collaborate and communicate with them and reduces trust.

Naturally, employees with lower levels of communication at work have lower engagement levels and terrible mental health. But that is not all. A remote workplace makes it harder for employees to receive timely feedback on their work from managers too.

Although managers may use virtual meeting systems to connect with their employees, they may struggle with giving relevant feedback. And this reduces the morale of the employees.

A hybrid workplace solves all these challenges and promotes better employee mental health. Here is how.

In a hybrid setup, employees come into the office on some days and work remotely on others. This means that they can interact with their colleagues whenever they come to the office and form stable work relationships with them. On the other hand, managers can call employees to the office and give them personalized feedback on their progress. This boosts employee morale and increases mental health.

4. Staff’s Health and Safety

Companies must continue complying with safety norms even with successful vaccination drives. A hybrid workplace helps with it.

Fewer people come to the office in the hybrid setup. This automatically lowers office occupancy levels, increasing health security. Besides, with lower numbers of employees and flexible seating setups, the sanitization practices are much easier too.

5. Reduces Operating Costs

Overhead costs such as real estate can bleed a company. But these expenditures can be minimized by adopting a hybrid workplace model.

A study conducted by PWC observed that 31% of executives anticipate a fall in need for office space as they notice an increase in the workforce functioning remotely. A hybrid workplace means less space, which translates to less rent. This gives the company more funds to redirect elsewhere, whether that means expansion or talent acquisition.

Hybrid Workplaces Are Here to Stay

A hybrid workplace is here to stay by offering a unique blend of in-office and remote functioning that benefits the organization and employees. The merits that it brings further cement its place as the new age approach to what it means to be productive. 

A survey found that 78% of human resource professionals agree that remote working and flexible schedules are proving to be effective methods for retaining workers without spending money. 

WorkInSync hybrid workplace software allows you to seamlessly get your employees to return to the office. From desks to conference rooms, people working on-site or remote employees, WorkInSync has a module for everything and everyone. 

You can schedule a demo to learn more about WorkInSync and the different modules it offers.