The global COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workplaces we were familiar with. It posed a bunch of challenges for organizations across every industry. However, as economies open up, there are signs of opportunities.
One of the significant opportunities for workplaces now is the hybrid work setting. You know the model that sees a mix of on-site and remote work. And by all means, leaders see this as the future of work.
52% of US workers want a hybrid work model, and 72% of corporate leaders share a similar view. 66% of organizations are already redesigning their office space. And 40% of workers across the globe are planning to switch jobs if a flexible work model is not implemented.
So, there is no shade of doubt that the hybrid workplace is the future of work. But getting hybrid right is a difficult task. Deciding who works from the office and when is a complex issue.
It can threaten the work environment, company culture, morale, and employee experiences if not done correctly.
But we all know that a well-executed hybrid workplace can become a place of growth and productivity. This is why you need a long-term strategy.
This blog looks at a few long-term strategies that can help you develop a hybrid workplace without faults.
Merge Physical and Digital Experiences
As an organization or as a leader, diminishing the distance between on-site and remote employees is a significant challenge.
In a hybrid workplace model, some employees will be inevitably be working from home. And you may have a few employees working from the office permanently. This can lead to dissatisfaction on both sides.
While remote workers may feel isolated and neglected, on-site employees may complain of a lack of flexibility.
So, how do you handle such frustrations? Well, you integrate the physical and digital world with the help of technology.
One of the best ways to merge these two worlds is during meetings. It is the best form of collaboration. During a hybrid session, try to make your remote employees feel included. You can use meeting room booking software to ensure that they are updated with everything in the office.
Instead of one big screen, you can have multiple screens during the meeting dedicated to each remote employee. Set out a dedicated time of the meeting to listen to them and address their concerns.
You create a hybrid workplace that supports collaborative growth by removing the gap between on-site and remote team members.
Balance Individual and Team Work
A Gensler study showed that remote employees saw a 37% decrease in collaborative work at the height of the pandemic.
This has forced leaders to rethink the purpose of the office. For most, it is no longer a place to come and work. It is a place for collaboration.
Two-thirds of the world’s CEOs want to create a space for better collaboration. Hence, the adoption of a hybrid workplace.
The purpose of a hybrid work model is straightforward. Employees come to the office for collaboration and team building. Yes, some employees may be frequent to the office compared to the others. But the ultimate motive is to promote unity.
And to do so, you need to mention what gets done where. If employees need to work in solitude, let them work from home. When there is an important meeting, let them come to the office.
For a successful hybrid workplace, you need to distinguish between “me” and “we” work. While the “me” work can be focused on productivity, “we” can be all about teamwork.
This will create a hybrid work environment that is healthy, productive, flexible, and values employee experience.
Create More Open Spaces
50% of the US companies plan to pilot new office spaces as they execute their return to the office coups.
So, real estate will play a major role in the development of a hybrid workplace strategy.
For decades, there were individual workstations in cubicles, open to all, and meetings would be held in closed rooms. Well, now, with the need for social distancing, you need to flip the options.
Desks now need to be enclosed spaces, and meetings must be held in big, open spaces.
Individual desks can be designed as pods or small, enclosed areas to support privacy. An on-site employee might have to collaborate with their remote counterpart. Doing so in the open can be difficult. With such closed-off areas, collaboration will become easier.
As for open spaces, yes, they need to be fluid and are, anyway, more flexible. You need to understand that most employees would come to the office for collaboration work. Therefore, you need to create a space for your employees to collaborate.
It is also easier to morph an open space later if the need arises. The ideal approach now should be to let go of unused desks and create open areas instead. The existing meeting rooms can be segmented to create individual spaces.
By creating more open space, you remain flexible. Yet, at the same time, you ensure that the purpose of hybrid is adequately met.
To Conclude
The office we are returning to is not going to be the same. A hybrid work setting departs from everything we have known so far. So to develop a strategy that works in the long term, you need to keep in mind the points mentioned above.
The future will be beneficial for organizations that now take advantage of the hybrid workplace. To do so, you need to implement one right away. This is where WorkInSync can help you.
We are a SaaS-based hybrid workplace solution that offers many features like desk and meeting room management. We help you implement a hybrid workplace and develop a strategy for its seamless management.
Interested to know more about WorkInSync. Opt for a free demo today.