Hybrid Working: Home and the Office

Written by EFP
Author

With the hope of returning to normality over the next few months, many businesses and employers are beginning to think about how working life will look post-pandemic. One of the most popular theories is a hybrid style of working, which will combine working from home with working in the office.

What is Hybrid Working? 

Many people have praised the switch to working from home during the pandemic for its increased flexibility and lack of commuting time and cost. It has allowed people to spend more time with their family and waste fewer hours on the tube. However, a consensus seems to be that working from home can feel isolating and un-motivating. It can be hard to feel supported by your colleagues and team members when you cannot work in the same room as them. The solution to this problem seems to be implementing a hybrid working system that accommodates working from home and working in the office.

You could suggest that all staff members work three days in the office and two days at home, or vice versa. Or you could allow each employee to choose what works best for them and their schedules.

Why is it a Good Idea? 

Giving staff the freedom to create a working pattern that suits them is a great way to increase workplace motivation and productivity. Hybrid working could allow staff to be re-energised and inspired by each other a few days a week and have the peace to get on with their tasks for the rest of the time.

Hybrid working is also a much more inclusive way of working as it encourages those who may struggle to come to the office every day to feel welcomed into the job. Disability and mental illness are among the reasons why someone may struggle to work in an office all of the time. By allowing hybrid working, you are diversifying the pool of candidates that can apply to your business.

Tips for Implementing a Hybrid Working System 

  • Speak to your staff about what support they will need when returning to the office. It has been an extremely challenging year, and even if it is the right decisions, returning to work may not be easy for everybody.
  • Think about the best schedule for your business. For example, if you need people to be in the office on Mondays, you will need to plan who is working from home to ensure a fair split of office working. Remember these things when returning to the office too.
  • Be prepared to change the working system if it’s not working for you and your staff. It’s a good idea to check in with your employees to ensure that their working schedule is still suitable for them; if it’s not, be flexible and allow for amendments.

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