Have you been to your nearest CBD lately? It probably seems a little lonelier than you remembered.
Companies around the world have shifted to remote working arrangements since COVID-19 began. However, some companies are ready to transition back to a modified office model after traditional workplace dynamics were challenged over the last year and a bit.
According to Salesforce, 64% of workers like working from outside the office occasionally and 37% want to continue full-time work from home after the pandemic.
To meet the demands of workers, a new office model has emerged: the hybrid office.
What is a hybrid office?
Instead of letting your empty office space collect dust, many businesses have turned to the hybrid office model. A hybrid office combines an in-person and remote work office arrangement. Teams of all sizes can now choose to work remotely and take advantage of shared work spaces when they need to. This can include booking a coworking space or shared office space so teams can remain flexible. You could also implement hot desking.
Hybrid models prioritise remote work and leverage digital tools to substitute for in-person interaction and provide more work flexibility.
The hybrid work model can be actively managed and practiced to maintain remote working arrangements, employee engagements, well-being and productivity.
Increase productivity
Working at an office doesn’t guarantee maximum outputs and efficiency from all workers. Many people don’t have to be in an office to manage their workload. With a hybrid office model, there is a greater responsibility on management to define and clarify project objectives and outputs. Teams work well when management gives them a clear workflow and eliminates hours of brainstorming in a boardroom.
Reduce overhead costs
Another benefit of the hybrid office model is reduced overhead costs. Cutting costs on rent, expensive office furniture and equipment can result in significant savings.
With less employees in your office space at one time, you will spend less on utilities, WiFi, office supplies, cleaning supplies, and snacks. If workers choose to work from home (WFH) a few days a week, they will save time and money on transport.
The hybrid office model allows for in-person meetings if Zoom calls just aren’t cutting it. A hybrid office model can leverage coworking spaces and serviced offices that use pay as you go models to book rooms and desks with subscription-based plans. This way, you can maintain team collaboration and flexibility as you need it without having to maintain an office space.
Redefine workplace culture
Shifting to a hybrid office model doesn’t mean you have to neglect your workplace culture. In fact, a hybrid model leverages digital tools and technology to promote smarter working methods. There are so many digital tools to help optimise and automate the way people work. Using tools like Slack, Trello, Microsoft Teams and Cultr, it’s now easier than ever to manage team collaboration and workplace culture.
Digital tools and technologies are pushing companies to embrace different work schedules. A boardroom or a meeting room doesn’t have to be available to all employees 24/7. A hybrid model prioritizes a work-life balance and builds trust between leaders and colleagues. To maintain visibility, digital tools and technology can be used to promote collaboration and culture for employees both in and out of the office. The hybrid model allows employees to develop their professional relationships no matter where they are. If you’re still looking for good old face to face interaction, rent a meeting room for a few hours to meet with your team.
Conclusion
The hybrid office model is ideal for organizations of all sizes and allows both business owners and workers to reduce costs, save time, increase flexibility and increase productivity by using a remote-work mix. Once you shift to a hybrid model, you can count on reducing overhead costs on rent, equipment, utilities and more. The post-pandemic world has given remote work a legitimate seat at the table and a hybrid office combines the best of both worlds.
“The opinions expressed by BizWitty Contributors are their own, not those of BizCover and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Please read our full disclaimer."
