Jobhop Jobhop's blog : Hybrid Working; The Pros And Cons

Everyone is talking about hybrid working these days.

Before the pandemic hybrid working was something that employers thought about implementing some time in the future, but that quickly changed when Covid hit. Many offices emptied when Boris said "Work from home", many employees haven't fully returned, those that did are being sent home again.

Hybrid working looks like it's here to stay.

If you're not sure what hybrid working is then let me explain.

Hybrid working is partly working from home and partly in the office.

Some employers have fully embraced offering this way of working to employees whereas others have been more hesitant.

Over 70% of employees favour hybrid working so it's a real benefit to offer when trying to attract top talent.

There isn't an exact plan that says an employee must work three days in the office and two days at home to be considered a hybrid worker, this is something set by the employer.

Pros of Hybrid Working

Fake busyness

No more employees pretending to be busy. When employees work from home there's no having to look busy; they're measured on their productivity alone.

Savings

With fewer employees in the office, there are savings to be made. Lighting, heating, equipment and more. Downsizing the office could be a consideration as it's no longer being used to its full capacity, so further savings can be made.

Happier employees

The majority of your employees will be happy to not have to commute to work every day. They'll also be happy because they'll save money on transport charges, petrol, lunches, work clothes and more.

Wellbeing

Sometimes having to do it all can leave us all worn out. Having to get organised, get kids to school, endure long commutes to work, hit the gym, network after work can make the most laid back person stressed. More people take time off from work due to stress than any other illness, so it makes sense to put wellbeing first. Eliminate the stress and you'll have a healthy, happy, productive employee.

Cons of Hybrid Working

The office may lack energy

Just having half the workforce in the office at any one time can make the workplace feel empty. Not enough people to bounce ideas off, not enough chatter, no meetings over lunch, no birthdays to celebrate can all lead to a serious lack of energy.

Lack of motivation

With a lack of energy can come a lack of motivation. Being distanced from colleagues can bring some employees down, they then might find it hard to motivate themselves. Some people are not self-motivators and need others to fire them up.

The community suffers

This might not be a concern for some employers, but if you're an employer who has a corporate social responsibility to your community then it might be. With fewer people going into offices the sandwich shop on the corner will suffer, the dry cleaners won't be cleaning as many suits, and the shops won't get the footfall they once had.

Hybrid working policy

Another policy to add to the pile of other office policies will be required. Not having one could leave your business wide open for trouble. The policy should outline how the hybrid model works, cyber security requirements, safe working measures, performance management and more.

If you'd like more details on putting a Hybrid Working Policy together then Send email