We’re almost 4 years on from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic that had a devastating impact on millions of lives. We’re still feeling a range of ripple effects of this catastrophic event, and we will for many years to come. But for every negative, there’s often a positive, and one of the positives that came from the pandemic was a change in the way we work. Working from home was the new normal and after the pandemic, many businesses continued to offer hybrid working for their employees.
Hybrid Working Meaning: What is Hybrid Working?
The hybrid working model gives you the best of both worlds, time working in the office and time working from home.
Pre-pandemic, working from home was viewed as a luxury that most office workers couldn’t take advantage of. So, we trudged into the office come rain, hail or snow without question or dispute. We missed deliveries and even showed up when we felt bogged down with a cold, we got the kids ready for school, did the school run and battled traffic to get to the office by 9am (often arriving feeling stressed and bedraggled before the working day had even begun). And very few companies ever considered that perhaps there was a better way.
Then Covid hit, and so started the hybrid working revolution. Many businesses now have a hybrid working policy as standard in their employer contracts, giving employees a better work/life balance.
All you need is a work desk and a suitable chair (preferably an ergonomic chair), basic stationery, and you’re good to go.
What are the Benefits of Hybrid Working?
There are obvious benefits to adopting a hybrid model of working such as saving on fuel and cutting out travel time, allowing staff to either get more sleep or even take the dog for a walk before starting the working day. But there are so many other hybrid working advantages, including:
- It takes the pressure off families trying to juggle school runs and special events such as the annual nativity play
- Being home for deliveries/tradespeople
- Less spend on fuel/parking/vehicle wear and tear
- The ability to work even when you have a cold/cough without having to choose between taking a day off or spreading germs by going into the office
- Spending more time with your pets and not having the guilt of leaving them for prolonged periods
You could also argue that there are fewer distractions at home as it’s likely there are fewer people to chat to. And for those who find it difficult to concentrate with music on or the hustle and bustle of a busy office, working in the silence of their own home can be the more efficient way to get things done.
What are the Challenges of Hybrid Working?
There are things to consider before implementing a hybrid working policy.
It’s normal for businesses to ask employees to come into the office two or three times a week and one of the challenges can be monitoring this. You might want to implement a seat booking system such as Clearooms where you can upload a plan of your office for your team to book their seat and check in once they’re in the office. This also helps if there’s a fire alarm or other emergency.
Trust is a big factor when it comes to hybrid working. You can only implement this work model if you are confident your team will work efficiently during their time at home.
For younger team members who’ve never had an office job before, home or hybrid working is likely all they know. But for those who’ve been working for many years and become accustomed to the regular 9 – 5 in the office, working from home might take a little adapting.
But, as long as your staff work hard and drive the desired results, this flexibility shouldn’t create any problems.
One of the disadvantages of hybrid working can be a feeling of isolation, especially for those who live alone. So, they may choose to come to the office more regularly. There shouldn’t be a limit on the days your team can come to the office, we’d recommend having a minimum number of office days, but not a maximum.
Working from Home Advice to Employees
The benefits of working from home are great, but there are some key pointers for your team members to ensure everyone is working comfortably and efficiently.
- Create a dedicated office space. It doesn’t need to be huge but the space should be calm, airy and have natural light. There should be space to move around and enough desk space to comfortably use your keyboard & mouse, write notes and of course, the most important thing – place your tea or coffee.
- Ensure the background is appropriate for client calls or use the blur background function on their laptop. If the pandemic taught us anything it was how not to do video calls.
- Dress appropriately for Teams calls and wear the type of clothing you’d wear to the office. Home working definitely isn’t a reason to stay in your PJs all day!
If you’ve yet to come up with a working-from-home policy, we hope this guide has given you an insight into the benefits for you and your team. The flexibility of home working makes for happier employees which in turn, increases productivity and staff retention. Give it a go and see the results for yourself.
