Some great insight below on the risks all employers must be aware of as hybrid working takes over. Take a read below.
In a recent study undertaken by Leesman, the majority of the 67,000 employees surveyed, were hybrid workers: they used more than one location for work . ‘Hybrid’ is the buzzword of the moment. In the world of work and workplace, there is no shortage of opinions on the potential opportunities and threats of hybrid working, but how is it actually working? Out of those surveyed:
- 60% Hybrid
- 29% Home
- 11% Workplace
Key considerations
Leesman’s analysis of recent hybrid working experience revealed that it can provide a good solution moving forward although it is not free of risks.
Things employers and businesses must consider:
Some demographic groups are wary of the office: Younger employees and new-starters are the most likely to work fully remote and least likely to work in a hybrid way. This is worrying because they generally have a poorer experience at home due to their limited access to adequate work settings. If this is not addressed, they may be missing out on the full benefits that hybrid working can offer, feel isolated and overlooked. Having an entire demographic group absent also means a less diverse workplace.
Trust matters greatly but must be maintained: Feeling trusted to work away from the workplace is the fuel of any hybrid future. This trust was granted at the start of the pandemic – it had to be, since home working was mandated by many governments across the world. However, with restrictions lifted, most organisations now have a choice in whether they mandate where employees work. Those who do may risk talent attraction & retention problems, especially within demographic groups reluctant to commit to the office.
Commuting cannot be ignored anymore: Before the pandemic, commuting used to be part of the ‘normal’ work-life balancing act of most employees. This perspective may have changed since. Commute satisfaction may now be one of the crucial factors in determining likelihood of using the ‘main’ workplace, especially if the office is located more than an hour away from home.
Health concerns are still on people’s minds: Preparing for a post-pandemic future is what most organisations are doing, but unfortunately, we’re not fully over the Covid-19 episode yet. Health concerns about using the workplace or the commute are still very present in people’s everyday lives and play a crucial role in how ‘hybrid’ they are likely to work.
Surplus real estate is a real risk: Employees’ presence in the workplace is no longer a given. This will potentially leave many workplaces underutilised. Moreover, the number of people likely to use the workplace will fluctuate throughout the week, with potentially near empty Mondays and overcrowded Wednesdays. How to manage this surplus real estate, how much to cut, and how much to keep and improve – all of this will have to be thought through properly by each organisation.
The analysis shows how hybrid working can deliver a better experience than each of its components – i.e. fully office working or fully remote, but it does still pose some risks!
