The pandemic has caused disruptions not only in our personal lives but in the way people work. Because we were forced to go into lockdown, a lot of businesses and organizations had to drastically depart from the traditional work model and adopt a hybrid work arrangement in order to keep operations open.

Hybrid work allows employees the flexibility of working on-site on some days and working from home on other days. Sometimes organizations use the model of having part of the workforce work full-time remote or full-time on-site. Other organizations allow a combination of both working arrangements. 

The value of a hybrid work model working arrangement comes from having the flexibility to adapt. Here are some of the key benefits: 

Health and Safety

This is first on the list for a reason. We can (arguably) say that the hybrid work model was born out of the necessity to keep employees safe and reduce exposure to illness during the Covid-19 pandemic. Employers need to balance their employees health and safety and the ability to keep business afloat.

Productivity

In the traditional full-time work on-site model, most employees clock in from 9am to 5pm, Mondays – Fridays. However, the hybrid work model allows employees to work when they’re most productive as long as they complete the number of hours required and/or are able to submit their deliverables. Note that organizations require team members to be available for inquiries and collaboration, so teams should work out a schedule that coincides with each member’s availability.

Work-life balance

The hybrid work model allows for a better work-life balance as workers have more control over their schedules. The traditional full-time work on-site model locks in most of the day while the hybrid work model allows employees to stop and start work in order to take care of personal errands and duties.

Global talent pool

The beauty of the hybrid work model is that it allows employers to have access to a wider talent pool since they can hire people from around the world. This ensures a competitive edge and round-the-clock productivity for the organization.

Savings

Employers can save on overhead costs since only a few people are working on-site at any given time. With fewer people at the office, the business can save on utilities. They can even reduce their real estate cost by 30% if they engineer their workplace to support organizational priorities.

Up until 2019, the hybrid work model was still seen as an alternative work arrangement or even one of the “perks of the job.” However, the global pandemic changed all that and had us think about ways to reinvent the way we work. There is no doubt that the future of work is hybrid.

Is your organization or business still on the traditional full-time work on-site model or have you adapted a hybrid work model? What are your experiences with hybrid work? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp