Over the next few months, the companies will continue to assess whether to continue with full-time remote work, bring employees back into the office or embrace the hybrid work model.
According to the latest survey by PwC, most workers in the United States prefer a hybrid work environment.
After the coronavirus outbreaks, the sudden work shift took many employees by surprise. The abrupt change in the work nature not only brought unforeseen challenges but the intensity of the transformation was hard to adapt to. However, with more than a year into remote working employees found their ways to make work from home bearable and effective. Employees with internet troubles found a better and stable internet connection for home, while the employees draining in isolation found entertainment through Spectrum TV Select and more such home-based entertainment options.
However, now as the vaccination movements are increasing in the country there are more options for companies who want to reshape the work landscape. Remote work was a pleasure for the employees who wanted an opportunity to experience the comfort of working remotely. However, for companies, remote work creates employees retention concerns, cybersecurity threats, and a disruptive virtual work environment. Therefore, companies are now looking forward to adopting a working model that gives them leverage to become more inclusive. The hybrid work model is the common ground for employees who want to continue working from home and the companies who want to embrace a working style that makes more sense to the stakeholders.
A hybrid work model hype ups the job market to a large pool of talents that might not be possible with the in-office working standards.
Hybrid Environment for Women
Working from home has been a revelation for women who work in knowledge jobs. Of course, the pandemic has been challenging for everyone regardless of gender – but homeschooling taking care of the elderly and virtual learning usually lies on the shoulder of the women in the house.
And it is not just women who benefited from remote working, employees of color can experience a more equitable work environment with a hybrid work model. A survey from the Future Forum has found out that 97% of Black information workers want to work remotely. This means that a flexible working environment can be a much more likable scenario for many employees.
Hybrid Model for the Disabled
For disabled individuals or those who are struggling with health challenges, the ability to work from home when they want can open up more work opportunities. This is a win-win situation for the companies who want more talent or are going through a shortage and people who need remote working comfort.
Many of the employees are realizing the environment in their work quality and quality of life. Not having to deal with the stress of the commute and having the ability to spend more time with their family, enjoying the home-cooked meals, and trying to be more efficient at work. All of this has helped them in creating a work-life balance.
Back-to-Office Plan
Once the back-to-office plans come to reality, then you need to put in more effort to make it work. If you want your employees to enjoy returning to the office you need to understand where they are coming from. You should inquire what is going on in your employee’s lives? Is your employee is taking care of a child or an elder? Is your employee-facing stress commuting to the office? Is your employee is going through health challenges after the pandemic? Is your employee not feeling comfortable with going to the office because of racism or feeling marginalized?
Embrace to Evaluate
The hybrid work model is new, but it is efficient and more competent. If you want your employees to feel valued and comfortable in the company, you need to provide them an environment where they are experience flexibility and comfort.