When one thinks of the future of work, it could often be in terms of technological advancements and competitive jobs. However, changes in the style of work and the environment are just as important to consider and right now, the future work style seems to be the hybrid model. This is a model in which workers spend some time in the office and the rest anywhere they choose to operate from. The question then arises: why is the hybrid model the next step? No doubt, the pandemic is part of the answer. Covid-19 forced companies and employees to work away from the office, helped highlight the benefits of flexibility in work locations and times, and gave industries the opportunity to learn how to execute the hybrid model successfully. Nevertheless, there are other specific reasons why we believe the model is here to stay, even after Covid-19. 

Employees Come First

The hybrid model acknowledges that workers have diverse schedules, living situations, work patterns and not everyone works best in the office. It gives employees the freedom to choose the working environment that best suits them, and affords them the flexibility needed for other events and activities in their lives. The result is a better work-life balance for employees, which may lead to staff members that are happier and more motivated. These benefits of the model enable companies to attract skilled workers and remain competitive in their respective industries. 

Efficient Utilization of Resources

Resources are utilized efficiently in a well-executed hybrid setup. To begin with, this method of working minimizes the need for a physical workspace. Therefore, it saves companies costs associated with the workplace; the funds can be redirected to other operations. Besides that, the hybrid work model can save a lot of time. Employees no longer have to spend minutes-even hours- each day commuting to and from the office. With the time saved, workers can focus more on the projects. Additionally, the stress associated with long commutes is eliminated, and employees can be more energized and motivated when tackling duties. Moreover, employees are consistently working in environments that best suit their needs and work habits; this boosts their productivity, leading to better quality of work. 

Don’t Forget The Evidence

If the first two points were not convincing enough, consider this: many people have either adopted the hybrid model or are eager to do so, and evidence proves this. 

First, the Straits Times discussed a survey conducted by EngageRocket with the Singapore Human Resources Institute and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals. This survey had 9000 participants across nearly 90 companies, and revealed that 90% of employees in Singapore want to “continue working from home to some capacity”. Furthermore, a study for the International Facility Management Association reports that more than half of SMEs expect some funds spent on the physical office to be redirected towards “improving employee digital experiences”.

Even big players are in on the trend. Twitter, Microsoft, and Slack will allow employees to work remotely even after the pandemic, and Siemens is permanently giving staff the choice of work location. Kathleen Hogan, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Microsoft, wrote the following: “Moving forward, it is our goal to offer as much flexibility as possible to support individual work styles, while balancing business needs and ensuring we live our culture.” She then goes on to acknowledge that flexibility is subjective. With this evidence, the question isn’t who is considering the hybrid model, but who isn’t? 

The hybrid models are poised to become the norm across industries, given COVID-19, the flexibility and efficiency associated with it, and the massive interest already shown. With the way things are going, it may only be a matter of time before the hybrid model dominates work-life across the globe.