Hybrid working is one of those things that every employer has to give consideration to now. The hardest thing about implementing a hybrid working model is that it is not a one-size-fits-all method. What does it really take to develop hybrid working, a flexible working model that combines working from home in an office?
Finding an Accommodating Office Space
You can find an office space for lease which may be small enough to accommodate your needs. Some employees may prefer to work from home remotely because of their personal lives, yet others like the fact that being in an office motivates them more. An accommodating office space that’s not too big or not too small can make a massive difference here and is part of what is called the office-occasional model, where employees would be expected to come into the office for a certain number of hours or days per week. It’s not hugely flexible but can certainly straddle the balance.
Asking Employees What They Want
The best approach is to get feedback from employees and see what the general consensus is in favor of remote, office, or hybrid. It all depends on the nature of the individual roles. There are those that can benefit from working remotely, such as those performing administrative tasks. But for those in more powerful positions, they may need to have a more diverse approach.
Create Clear Procedures
If you want employees to come back to the office, you’ve got to make sure the transition between remote and hybrid is in place. If you want to implement a hybrid working model, you will have to make sure that each member of staff knows their responsibilities and you need to reiterate your approach according to the HR aspects of the business, such as disciplinaries.
Hiring Talent From Across the Planet
Hybrid working may be beneficial for your business because you can reach out further. Hiring talent from other parts of the world means they’re not going to be able to come into the office, but this is where you need to provide a better infrastructure to ensure that the technical aspects are in place.
Building a Community That Is Virtual and Real
Many companies have used virtual project management tools, but you have got to blur the boundaries between the real and the virtual. This can involve upgrading your technology to make sure that communication is far more instant, but you also need to focus on creating a virtual community. Ensuring that employees feel more involved when they work remotely is of the utmost importance.
Ensuring Remote Employees Don’t Feel Left Out
Some organizations find it hard to motivate remote employees, but one of the biggest problems in hybrid working is about ensuring that everyone in the company still feels included. This is why you should think about employee retreats on a semi-regular basis, perhaps every 6-months. This will help to keep morale high but it can also show remote workers the benefits of being in a more sociable environment like an office.
It can be a difficult balance to get right, but when it comes to hybrid working, some of these components need careful consideration.