Six Best Practices For A Hybrid Workplace
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become habitual to working remotely and from home. Data scientists predict that 25 percent of all jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022. Moreover, 8 out of the 10 people in the UK who worked at home during the pandemic said they planned to hybrid work in the coming future.
Slowly, the concept of working in a hybrid place is becoming a new normal. What are the best practices for a hybrid workplace, some of you may wonder? Well, you have come to the right place to answer these questions of yours!
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become habitual to working remotely and from home. Data scientists predict that 25 percent of all jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022. Moreover, 8 out of the 10 people in the UK who worked at home during the pandemic said they planned to hybrid work in the coming future.
Slowly, the concept of working in a hybrid place is becoming a new normal. What are the best practices for a hybrid workplace, some of you may wonder? Well, you have come to the right place to answer these questions of yours!
Best ways to create a hybrid environment:
1. Employers should have regular communication with their employees.
By employees being heard and listened to by their employer, they will feel as if they have a purpose in the workplace. It will also give them a chance to talk about their flexibility in the workplace.
There are 4 types of different hybrid solutions that some organizations are putting in place. There is a hybrid at-will, which allows employees to choose which days they come to the workplace and which days they do not. Next, there is a hybrid split-week which is where the company assigns which days the employees will work remotely and which days they will work on-site. There is also a hybrid manager-scheduling where the manager of the team chooses which days their team comes to the workplace. Finally, there is a hydro mix which is a combination of all the options.
2. Right workplace for employees on site.
If an employee is not comfortable working in a specific area, it is most likely that it will affect the quality of their work.
A crowded workspace can make a person feel claustrophobic and frustrated, while an empty workspace can make a person feel isolated and demotivated. The employer should consult with their employees and ask where they feel comfortable working. There should also be multiple options so their employee can choose whichever place they want. Desks should be cleaned frequently as well as it is likely that a clean desk will cause fewer distractions and the employee would be more productive. A spacious lunchroom should also be available for the workers where they can socialize, and it would be an area for them where they can take their minds off work and enjoy their lunch.
3. Invest in digital transformation.
To ensure that the hybrid work style continues to thrive, one of the best things a business can do is to adopt digital transformation. This will help improve the business, offer more tools for coworkers to interact and collaborate and keep the workforce engaged at all times.
It will bring all the hybrid teams together in a shared space. Digital transformation has tools such as virtual whiteboards, which improve productivity and collaboration for everyone in the team.
4. Adequate training for all employees.
Training is always important, regardless of how long a business or organization has been using the hybrid model. Technology is constantly evolving and so is software. Training should be carried out by companies, so it is ensured that the employees are comfortable navigating around the software, and know how to use the tools.
5. Taking care of employees’ health, both physical and mental.
Working in front of a screen all day can be tiring and can often cause resentment. To take care of an employee, both physically and mentally, is easier than most people think.
A company or business can set up certain days in the year where they can call in various types of entertainment so their employees can relax. Also, if they feel anyone is particularly struggling, they can try and get them to talk about how they are feeling and set up support for them. Employers may also consider setting up gym memberships for their employees or having an in-house facility. This would mean that employees would often have a chance to exercise and feel much better.
Work hours also have a huge effect on a person’s well-being. Managers should often check in on their workers and ensure that they are not overworking themselves if they are working remotely and that everyone has a fair share of the work.
6. Manage time wisely.
It is a common saying, “time is money”. Time will not wait, nor will it come back. Teams should consider when they will collaborate, focus, reflect and recharge. The work schedule should be organized, and everyone should have something to do. No one should be sitting idly in the workspace, just wasting time, that would be unfair to everyone else.
This also means setting limits on team meetings, so they are not too long. Having a specific agenda and making it time-bound will enable employees to resume their work without getting distracted.
Hybrid work is the way forward! It is quite simple to follow the practices and it is the best way to work for many employers and their employees. Hybrid work enables more collaboration, flexibility and innovation. Can we say, ‘the future is hybrid’?