Hybrid working: Why it’s here to stay
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Hybrid working has become a workplace norm after coming through the pandemic. Eric Shoup, chief executive of event booking marketplace Peerspace, discussed this and more with HR Leader.
Jack Campbell, journalist at HR Leader: “Why does ‘remote first’ attract new talent?”
Mr Shoup: “Research indicates Australian employees rank the highest across the globe for wanting hybrid work opportunities. As such, adopting a ‘remote-first’ or hybrid business model benefits current and potential employees, for whom flexibility has become a top priority over the last few years, but it can also have a significant positive impact on your business.”
“Establishing a ‘work-from-anywhere’ policy allows employers to tap into a deep pool of skilled workers and hire the best talent regardless of location.”
Journalist: “How do you commit to the process and transition it into a practice?”
Mr Shoup: “Regular communication is key to keeping remote-first employees connected … Having a system for team-level Zoom calls and using tools such as Slack, Asana and Notion for messaging and information sharing can also help ensure employees have the information they need to do their jobs effectively.”
“Another key success factor for remote-first work is to ensure employees have a viable working environment at home. Companies may need to re-evaluate their employee benefits; for example, home office allowances or reimbursement for mobile phone and internet fees may now be more valuable to employees than reimbursement for commuting costs or office snacks.
“I also highly recommend running regular employee surveys to gather feedback and get an unfiltered view of how employees are feeling, [it] makes it easier to identify and troubleshoot any issues and to continue to build on the elements of company culture that employees are most excited about.”
Journalist: “What are the benefits of building autonomy in a virtual workplace setting?”
Mr Shoup: “A ‘remote-first’ working model can increase employee productivity [and] wellbeing and build autonomy. Peerspace employees have reported significant gains in productivity, and in an internal survey, 47 per cent of employees noted an improvement in their wellbeing.”
“By providing employees with flexibility in choosing when and how they work, team members can create a better balance of work demands and family obligations. With fewer distractions and interruptions throughout the day, employees can be more deliberate with their team interactions and set aside time for deep work. Additionally, a key factor with work/life balance in a ‘remote-first’ working environment is eliminating home-office commute times.”
Journalist: “What are the downsides to working fully remotely, and how to overcome these challenges?”
Mr Shoup: “For many companies or teams, this shift can be daunting and requires a renewed commitment to clear documentation across the business. Processes and decisions from all areas of the business need to be captured clearly and communicated effectively.
“Remote working can introduce new challenges for onboarding new employees, so this approach should also be embedded into the onboarding process to offer clarity on resources and historical information. Companies also need to be thoughtful about company culture and employee engagement, without the convenience of office events and mingling.”
Journalist: “Do you believe hybrid working arrangements will phase out, or are they here to stay?”
Mr Shoup: “Hybrid work will continue to evolve, but there is no question that it is here to stay. As businesses continue to refine their policies, they need to strike the right balance between working from home and providing opportunities for team members to get together in person.”
“There are cost-effective methods to having company-wide off-sites and gatherings in cities where multiple employees are co-located that give employees the opportunity to connect in person, collaborate on key projects, and celebrate wins. The key to making hybrid work successful rests in establishing clarity around business objectives and priorities, providing clear access to necessary resources, and continuing to collect and address employee feedback.”
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In a hybrid work environment, individuals are allowed to work from a different location occasionally but are still required to come into the office at least once a week. With the phrase "hybrid workplace," which denotes an office that may accommodate interactions between in-person and remote workers, "hybrid work" can also refer to a physical location.
Professionals can use remote work as a working method to do business away from a regular office setting. It is predicated on the idea that work need not be carried out in a certain location to be successful.
Jack Campbell
Jack is the editor at HR Leader.