The hybrid working model, which is known as a new working order in the business world, has gained importance, especially with the beginning of the pandemic. With the Covid-19 pandemic, many changes have occurred in human life. In this process, we are trying to create a different order in our lives by getting acquainted with many new practices. At this point, the hybrid working model emerges. So, what is the hybrid working model? What benefits does it provide? Let’s look into all the details together.
What Is Hybrid Working Model
The hybrid working model is a working style designed to allow employees to work together as efficiently as possible. This model enables employees and managers to organize their schedules in the most efficient way, which determines how they will work throughout the day and facilitates their communication with each other.
Hybrid working order refers to planning regarding both remote and in-office working order. There are different ways to configure hybrid working order, and programs may vary from team to team.
Some companies may prefer 100% remote or 100% in-office working methods depending on their location whereas some may allow employees to choose when to work remotely and when to be in the office. The programs that individuals follow will be affected by the operating model chosen by the company and various other factors.
Benefits of the Hybrid Working System
There are various advantages that the hybrid operating system provide. To list these advantages;
Better work/life balance
Work and life balance is often mentioned as one of the most important qualities a workplace could have. Preparing your own schedule gives you a significant amount of freedom and autonomy throughout a workday.
Hybrid programs offer flexible working options to those who need them. Individuals can have the time they need to carry out their various tasks.
Reduced commute time
It is clear that a hybrid program can directly shorten the commute times of the employees but we can also point out the fact that you could help improve the traffic for other people living in your area. Many people’s commute has actually improved over the past year, owing to fewer people on the roads. This model is expected to continue as more people choose to work partially remotely.
Increased Cooperation
Even though many remote workers face difficulties regarding communication, many experts associate this to the use of software that is not suitable for hybrid teams. As organizations find the right tools to enable seamless collaboration, a hybrid working environment can help close this gap. Teams take advantage of face-to-face communication without any mishaps if their software is not yet at the cutting edge.
Reduced company expenses
Let’s face it, the office sphere is expensive. It is estimated that 10-30% of office desks will be unused post-pandemic, although before the Covid-19 pandemic typically 30-40% of them were empty.
Considerations When Switching to the Hybrid Working Model
Some employees perform better in the full-time office, while others thrive in a completely remote environment. Even when transitioning to hybrid order, the options to work remotely or entirely within the office must be offered to each employee.
Transparency and trust
A culture of transparency is essential for effective remote working, and it applies in a hybrid environment as well. Openness and transparency will facilitate cooperation through asynchronous communication and distributed workplaces, prevent the deletion of important information, and help everyone focus on the same goals.
Human-based culture
Companies that already had an employee-centric culture pre-Covid were able to transition to a remote working order much more easily. With co-workers being no longer fully in the office together and asynchronous communication increasing, there is no need for strict daily work schedules. Of course, you should have some time conflict for easier cooperation; however, you should not copy the old in-office schedule.
Well-adjusted processes and communication channels
In the previous article, we highlighted inefficient processes as something to avoid in a hybrid workspace. Indeed, the most important prerequisite for successful hybrid order is well-established and well-managed processes and effective communication.
Agility
Considering all the above points, one final success factor for hybrid working that we should point out is embracing agility. This does not necessarily mean that you will choose a particular framework and stick to it but just by following the previous suggestion points, you will inevitably adopt some agile practices.
What Are the Risks of the Hybrid Working Model?
The hybrid working model has several risks. Problems such as communication problems, difficulties in management and administration, and performance measurement are among the main problems of the hybrid model. The risks in question and what needs to be done to eliminate these risks are as follows:
- It is more difficult to forge deeper connections between teams and welcome new employees. Bring teams together as much as possible and encourage employees to share information about themselves.
- People who work more face-to-face or face-to-face with leadership may have better career opportunities. Schedule regular virtual office hours that give employees access to company leaders so that everyone has a chance to build relationships.
- Commit to educating people in leadership positions on best practices for remote and hybrid management. Take the initiative to train and promote inclusive leadership at all management levels.
- Hybrid working order could lead to higher potential for discrete communication and missing important work. Adopt an asynchronous communication model so that people can communicate effectively.
- There is a general lack of understanding of project work and company goals. Schedule regular meetings to provide updates on project progress and keep people aligned with company performance.
- More people working asynchronously can make it harder for natural leaders to emerge at work. In groups that need to be formed virtually, explicitly assign leadership and train those interested in leadership.
Human Resources in Hybrid Working Order
Human resource is a unit that is related to the employees which follow the performance of the employees and makes various payments such as salaries. It is the duty of human resources to motivate employees, solve their problems, and give them their rights. With the transition to the hybrid working system, the role of human resources is increasing. Human resources which find answers to questions such as “Is the performance of the employees low or high on the days when they work from home? How much did the hybrid working system affect the motivation of the employees?” enable the company to operate much more successfully. At this point, more responsibilities are imposed on human resources with the hybrid working system. It is extremely important for customers that the human resources system improves itself and operates in a more professional manner.
