Once upon a time, working from home was seen as an employee benefit – and a rare one at that! Businesses argued remote working wasn't possible, usually due to a lack of technical capability, and would cost too much money to facilitate. It was likely trust they were lacking, but thankfully, most have now moved on from this earlier standpoint!
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies forced into working remotely have embraced it, introducing a hybrid' part-office, part-home' model as standard. Which is great news for those employees who always wanted the freedom of a few days' home working – and not so great for others who see it as a hindrance rather than a help...
Today, we're looking at both sides of the coin to understand why some are happy with hybrid and others are a hater, so as hiring managers, we can support both.
Life in the hybrid workers' Camp Happy!
"How could you not like hybrid working?!". That's what employees with their feet firmly wedged in camp 'happy hybrid' would say - and here's why.
Flexibility Whenever home working is up for discussion, one word springs to the forefront every time: freedom. Today's worker wants more time to get things done – for parenting, pet duties, jobbing house jobs, or exercising. Clearly, the flexibility working from home offers is key to its popularity, ranking the highest on most employees' priority lists nowadays because it offers more freedom and, ultimately, helps them achieve a better work/life balance.
Cost savings When you're no longer spending money on your daily commute, coffee and food breaks, and that quick 'look' in the shops during your lunch break… it's no wonder you begin to see more change left over with each paycheque. And with the cost of living rising at the minute, every penny saved by working from home can make a massive difference to the bank balance, leaving many hybrid workers feeling quids in. Ker-Ching!
Greater productivity Without question, people have different drivers and for many, having zero distractions from colleagues (and no boss-type over their shoulder all day) leaves them to get much more done in their day. Many happy hybrid workers claim they're at the most productive left to their own devices working from home.
And the not-so-happy hybrid campers…
For all its positives, plenty of workers are less than enthused over working remotely for numerous reasons, which collectively lead to reduced productivity.
Social interaction Let's be honest; work is about more than earning a living! Lots of employees rank the social aspect of their job higher than the job itself – and when you're not going to a workplace every day, that social interaction starts to diminish. Fewer conversations first thing Monday morning to talk weekend antics. Less random catch-ups while taking a coffee or tea break. Little to no post-work drinks – which is all some workers look forward to! And you can bet your bottom dollar the day you're in the office, the colleagues you want to converse with won't be!
Guidance Just because you're an individual contributor doesn't mean you are void of support from your leaders. Some workers rely on it, in fact, for all kids of reasons - from approval on a project to handling an email from a tricky customer. When your manager sits at a desk three feet away, it's much easier to grab them for a quick answer to a query than it is to track them down virtually. For some employees, this is frustrating, particularly when you need the solution fast.
Collective thinking When you're not gathering as a group, it stands to reason you do less teamwork and more as an individual. That's fine, with most employees expected to fulfil their daily tasks independently. Yet, it can be challenging for team-based project work to get into a rhythm when you're not physically together.
Visibility Imagine not seeing your manager in the flesh regularly. Once upon a time, it was unimaginable; now, for many workers, it's the absolute norm, leaving some of them feeling invisible. Call it 'out of sight, out of mind' syndrome, with some workers worried that less exposure to senior leaders puts a stop to their career altogether.
Hang on. Isn't hybrid working designed to support everyone?
As people or hiring managers, we understand there will always be difference from one worker to the next. The challenge comes in creating an effective work model and culture for everyone.
And that's ultimately the aim of hybrid.
Rather than being one fixed work model, it blends the best of both worlds – office and home-based working – to create a model that supports all needs.
And yet you may still have the haters. What can you do to make them happy?
You play your role as a people manager just as you always would – wherever you are based. You listen to your workers' needs, take action where possible to facilitate those needs in line with the company's goals, and check in regularly to ensure you're meeting them.
For example, can you easily adjust their office-based time to give them more time with leaders or colleagues? Or, if you no longer have a physical workspace, is there an opportunity to facilitate regular/weekly meet ups with your team elsewhere? How about a monthly work event for employees missing their previous social interactions?
Like it or not, hybrid working is not going to disappear. There are too many supporters, both employees and employers, with the latter also keen on its benefits from increased positivity to reduced overheads. Better to get the haters into camp happy as quickly as you can, for everyone’s benefit.
Are you looking for talent and need a hand with the hiring process?
121 are recruitment specialists with lots of useful advice to help you achieve your employment objectives. Have a chat with one of our professional, super-helpful team today! Call 01904 769142.