Will the Future of Work Be Hybrid?

(Image Credit: Nathan Riley on Unsplash)

Remote work became a daily practice for a number of employees when the pandemic started, but with the idea of returning to the office becoming more of a reality, the hybrid model of work might just be the new normal. 

Back in January of 2021, 32% of Canadian employees between the ages of 15 to 69 worked most of their hours from home. But now that over 52 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed, many organizations are looking into the possibility of getting employees back into the office by offering a new hybrid model of work.

The hybrid work model offers employees the opportunity to get work done when they feel they are most productive and offers the flexibility to work at the office with their teammates or remotely. According to a survey from KPMG of over 2,000 Canadians, over three-quarters (77%) of Canadians want to have hybrid work arrangements once the COVID-19 pandemic ends. 

With the hybrid model becoming more in demand, here are some tips on how your organization can adapt a hybrid model of work and bridge the gap between working remotely and in the office. 

1. Create a Safety Plan

Creating a Safety Plan is one of the most effective ways to bring employees back into the office while also focusing on their health and safety. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act employers must take every precaution reasonable to protect their employees and make their organizations safer for everyone.

Some procedures listed in a Safety Plan (or protocols) can include:

• Keeping people who are infected or exposed out of the workplace

• Ensuring physical distancing can be maintained

• Using masks indoors

• Promoting cleaning and disinfection

• Increasing fresh air in the workplace 

• Providing screening for employees

Having a proper safety plan and following it can keep employees who choose to work in the office safe so they can continue doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.

For more information on how to create a Safety Plan or Checklist, check out the COVID-19 Safety Checklist For Workplaces from Ontario.ca.

2. Educate Management on How to Manage Hybrid Teams

According to KPMG, 81% of Canadians believe that their managers lack the skills that are required to manage hybrid teams. This means that there is a call for managers who can embrace the attitudes and soft skills necessary to keep employees inspired and engaged remotely in the same way they would if they were working in the office. 

The ability to oversee hybrid teams is in demand because it requires managers who can communicate clear goals, plans, deadlines and even quality expectations to their teams. Along with this, employers and managers that are properly trained to motivate their employees will also be able to address and create guardrails for limiting burnout, isolation and other challenges related to remote work. 

3. Address Whether it is Necessary to Have All Employees Back in the Office

When creating a hybrid model of work it is important to think about whether it is really necessary to have everyone back into the office, or to create a schedule to have certain departments back at different times. For example, if some departments can carry out their jobs properly while they are working remotely, then it might not be necessary to have their departments in the office at all times or even at all. Determining which departments should return to the office and which can continue working remotely can offer the flexibility to complete tasks while keeping everyone socially distanced and safe. 

Organizations like Adtrak currently have a hybrid model of work in place where employees are only required to come into the office once a week on the same day as their team and the rest of the week they have the flexibility to work from home unless a meeting has to be in person. 

Addressing whether it is necessary to have all your employees back at the same time can help you gradually bring in your employees, help them transition back to the office, and also control the amount of people present at once. But please ensure you use fair and consistent criteria for determining who works in the office and when.

4. Focus on Employee Productivity 

The hybrid model of work also creates a focus on productivity. According to The Canadian HR Reporter, 31% of Canadian employees say working from home helps them attract and retain talent, 27% say it increases their productivity, and only 26% say that it mitigates burnout. 

Forbes also states that employees who are given the opportunity to work in a hybrid model of work have better productivity, more trust across the board, and build digital fluency which tend to have higher revenue growth and are more likely to be considered great places to work. Hybrid work boosts productivity because it gives the employee the flexibility to finish their tasks in the location of their choosing, whether it be at home or in the office. 

5. Reinforcing the Idea of a Work-Life Balance

One of the most important factors of the hybrid model of work that emerged for employees is the work-life balance that came with it. A work-life balance consists of finding the right mix between your work activities and your personal life. Many people working from home found that the hybrid model of work made it easier to create a routine with the flexibility it gives. 

While hybrid work offers the opportunity for a better work-life balance, it also happens to be what Canadian employees prefer. In a survey conducted by the PWC Canada called Canadian Workforce of the Future, 29% of Canadian employees say the ideal scenario for a work environment is a balance between working half at the workplace and half remotely. 

By having a hybrid work environment and creating more opportunities for work-life balance, this also eliminates any physical or mental health issues that may have been issues before and improves the quality of life for all employees. 

For more information on how to keep up a work-life balance, check out these 10 Ways to Keep a Good Work Life Balance When Hybrid Working.

Understanding the benefits of implementing a hybrid work model can impact your organization in many ways. By choosing to reinforce the hybrid model not only will your employees have more flexibility, but they will have greater job satisfaction in the end as well. 

A hybrid future of work seems to be more of a reality each day.  

Will your organization make the shift? 

Want to learn more about hybrid work? Join us on Friday, September 24 at 12:00 p.m. for our next Life Works Well Mentor Circle Back to the Office Now or Never? Click here to register!