In January, the UK saw “The Great Return” of millions of employees to offices as the working from home guidance was lifted. However, there have been calls to make workplace flexibility the norm, igniting conversations about what companies should consider in the future. Taking centre stage in this discussion is the hybrid workplace, which is largely considered the ideal balance between in-office and remote working.
According to an exclusive survey by the BBC, 70% of 1 684 people polled believe that employees won’t return to the office at the same rate as in the pre-pandemic world.
Additionally, many employees revealed that they prefer to work from home remotely or at least some of the time.
With the current workplace landscape calling for more flexibility, your business may be seriously looking to adopt a hybrid workplace model. If so, read on to discover how to get the best of both worlds.
Defining the concept
But first, a quick definition. A hybrid workplace is a flexible concept and so is its definition. It isn’t one-size-fits-all and requires you to truly understand the needs of your business and team members before transitioning. For a company to operate as a hybrid, it needs to feature one of more of the following:
- Accommodate both remote and office workers
- Allow working from home and in-office work
- A mix of employees who work in the office, others from home, and those who go into the office occasionally
Hybrid workplaces vary from organisation to organisation, but the essence remains the same. It offers the ultimate flexibility and enables team members to work where and when they feel most productive. This improves their quality life and enhances the work they produce.
Steps to get your workplace hybrid ready
1. Consult your team
No matter how small your company is, it is always good practice to consult with your team members before implementing major changes. With this in mind, before you go full steam ahead with a hybrid setup, talk to your team, understand the type of workplace they would prefer and find out where they work best. Analyse the survey’s feedback so when you set in motion the new model, you will have a clear idea of the general sentiment.
2. Tackling challenges, finding solutions
It’s essential to identify the potential challenges and issues of hybrids for your unique business. This should be done from the start, followed by brainstorming possible solutions.
If you’re having a hard time identifying this, ask yourself the following questions:
- What tools will I use for teams to collaborate?
- How will I implement availability requirements?
- What will be the main form of communication
3. Policies provide direction
Once you get the foundation right, it’s time to focus on drawing up a hybrid workplace policy with clear guidelines, procedures and rules. Explain expectations and policies around:
- Positions that qualify and don’t for remote work
- When and where to work remotely and in-office
- Healthy and safety measures for in-office and remote team members
- Requirements for availability and communication
- Inclusivity and harassment policies for both remote and in-office settings
- Data security for each setting
4. Communication throughout transitioning
Communicating with your team during this transition is imperative, especially when updating them about big decisions that affect their personal work setup. Simple emails that inform members about key developments achieved or any hiccups help maintain good communication. What’s more, once the transition to a hybrid workplace is complete, it’s integral to let them know how you will communicate, how team leads will communicate with their respective departments and how various teams can communicate with each other.
5. The heart of hybrids
Technology is the heart of the hybrid workplace and requires internet-based collaboration tools, including cloud platforms, video communication, email and office suites, chat solutions and cybersecurity and encryption.
To better understand the exact tech infrastructure your business needs for both remote and in-office setups, you need to determine whether your current solutions are sufficient. You may need to implement new tools or upgrade existing ones. Of course, having the expertise of IT team members will make the process so much easier, but if you don’t have this expertise, it’s best to get advice from an IT consultant.
If your business needs the unmatched flexibility of a hybrid workplace, we have office setups to accommodate this game-changing model. Our flexible serviced office solutions are perfect for hybrid working. They allow for collaboration, private time and foster creativity. You will also have access to a newly revamped onsite meeting room, where teams can catch up, discuss important information and meet clients virtually or face-to-face. To get the ball rolling, contact our helpful team on 0800 634 9920 or drop us an email at: [email protected].