The new hybrid work model enables the employers and employees of the companies to work from home and work in the office. The mixture of the two was introduced in 2020 after the pandemic took place all over the world. Many employees started working from home after government-imposed lockdowns in several places. Research by Stanford Institute indicates that 55% of US workers want a mixture of working from home and in the office. According to another research, 71% of employees are currently working from home, and 54% want to continue working from home post-pandemic. Numerous companies in the world announced remote working for their employee’s post-pandemic. These organizations include Google, Facebook, Linked In, Microsoft and Twitter. A hybrid work model allows flexibility in working from any location, and this clearly shows that the hybrid work model is the new arrangement in the workplace for employees and businesses.
According to a Hibob survey, employees worked from home (remote), 21% while 37% worked in an office, and about 42% embraced the hybrid work model: the mixture of WFH and WFO. There are four types of hybrid work models described by Hibob, which are as follows.
1. The at-will model: This model allows employees to make their own choices whether to work from home on any day or to come to the office. Many companies have changed their HR processes, including sending a request to ‘work at the office’ to comply with the social distancing rules.
2. The split work model: This model is the most popular among employees as they can split the week to work from home for 2-3 days or split to work from the office. Organizations these days split the week to work from the office according to the departments.
3. Shift work model: This model allows employees to work in shifts, for example, working in the morning or evening onsite in the office. The schedule keeps changing, making it difficult sometimes for employees to work according to the set timings by the company.
4. Week by week model: The employees of the companies have the power to work from alternate home weeks. The model also allows teams to meet in the office, promoting face-to-face interaction and networking. The deadlines, reviews, presentations and updates are met when teams work together.
There has been a significant increase in demand for the HR department in 2020. Forbes states that software’s usage can be increased to monitor the activities of the staff. A survey by Gartner suggests that 82% of leaders plan to allow the employees to work some of the time remotely. As a result, the HR department has become the first stop shop for the employees in 2020. HR is responsible for creating/updating policies and rules regarding the social-distancing norms and introducing hygiene for its employees, making the workplace a secure and productive space. They are meant to communicate new changes in rules and regulations by the government regarding COVID-19 to the employees and employers. The employees and HR work together and create a bond that makes them feel safe and supported as the HR team has adapted to the pandemic and its effects on them.
ADVANTAGES OF HYBRID WORK MODEL
1. Increased productivity: Some employees find it better to work from home while some find working from the office better. According to a survey, 48% of employees felt productive at home while 52% did not. The at-will hybrid model works well for most employees as they feel more focused and productive at work. Different factors at home can sometimes distract the employees, such as handling children and their online schools in the pandemic. As a result, sometimes you can work at the office properly rather than at home.
2. Increased job satisfaction: According to Hibob, workplace flexibility is positively correlated with increased productivity and job satisfaction. Employees were more satisfied taking the hybrid approach than by only working at home or the office. About 53% of employees were satisfied with their jobs, and 47% were not. HR still needs to work on improving and providing the best arrangements for employees, making location friendly. The at-will model provides freedom to the employees as they can work from wherever they want, which suits their choice, increasing happiness levels.
3. Improved mental health and well-being: COVID-19 had an enormous impact on the well-being of employees and employers. Employees that stay at home have developed feelings of loneliness and anxiety due to an overload of work. The new hybrid model allows flexible working conditions. The HR department is working extensively to provide the employees with a healthy working environment. Survey shows that 60% of employees with the split-week model are doing well, while 54% of employees engaged in the at-will model are doing well. Thus, hybrid work models have positively impacted well-being and mental health at work since the pandemic started.
4. Decreased costs: Employees save time and money as they don’t have to commute to offices daily. The company also has seen a decrease in transport costs. Businesses can cut the cost of rents, office supplies and other expenses. The new hybrid model allows employees to be focused and productive, which directly affects the costs. The employees increase the quality of the work, which in return gives profits to the company. The company can also save the staff turnover, and the expenses for the maintenance of company building structures as only a few employees work in the office, making it efficient for organizations.
In conclusion, employees who have taken up hybrid work models at the workplace are more productive, secured and motivated. Comfortable employees help better in fulfilling the company’s goals and ensuring the growth of the company. Companies need to ensure greater levels of well-being and mental health, which would affect the increase of revenues and better adaptability in the pandemic. The hybrid model also promotes employees to view the positive side of the problematic situation in the world. According to Salesforce, Generation Z will soon become the largest workforce segment, and they are interested in a hybrid approach to work. 74% of Gen Z would prefer working from home or splitting time between home and work. Therefore, hybrid work models are the new future of organizations and businesses in the upcoming years and are here to stay for the better of our future.
HR software makes the employers and employees feel secure in these challenging times and increases the self-confidence of workers at the workplace. Moreover, since the hybrid work model is still new to many, the leaders should work together with employees to make flexible arrangements with HR. UBIQHR provides integrated solutions for organizations to adapt to the new hybrid work model, which is slowly and steadily becoming the future of the workplace.
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