The Future Of A Hybrid Workforce
What is a hybrid workforce?
A hybrid workforce refers to a type of work dynamic, where a portion of employees works from home whilst the other portion work from the office. It can also refer to a work model split by employees choosing to work from home on specific days, then work from the office for the rest of the week or vice versa.
What brought about the hybrid workforce?
Because of the global pandemic, many individuals have had no choice but to work from home, and interestingly enough, research has shown that employees have been just as productive from home as they would have been in the office. Many employees also expressed that they feel as if they’re more productive working from home.
Company organisations soon caught on to this growing trend. They realised that adopting a hybrid work model would allow them to cut back on real estate costs without halting productivity.
How do we succeed with a hybrid workforce?
As technology continues to advance, this new work model doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. So how do we succeed in such an environment?
Invest in online communication
Investing in communication within a hybrid workforce means investing in the right software tools. Managing project progress and communicating information effectively through online channels is the bread and butter of a successful hybrid workforce.
More importantly, it’s vital that your Team, both remote and in-office, take the time to educate themselves thoroughly on making use of these applications to the fullest. Some household names include; Zoom, Slack, Dropbox, Google Drive, Monday.com, Hive, Asana and Trello – although there are many more.
Only you can decide on which of these applications will best suit your work environment.
Create structure
Which employees should come into the office and how often? Do your employees all have defined roles and tasks set out to complete daily? What does the schedule look like, are there designated days where everyone will be in the office? You must define a clear structure for your employees that attempts to incorporate everyone’s best interests – to ensure set goals and efficient productivity.
Utilise cybersecurity
With a remote workforce, where almost everything is dependent on online technology – we’re noticing a rise in cybercriminal activity.
Loss of data, data distortion, and file corruption are only some of the nightmares lurking behind a poorly encrypted security system. Take cybersecurity seriously and invest in VPNs, antivirus upgrades, multi-factor authentication, and data recovery plans.
Set clear expectations
One of the issues plaguing a hybrid workforce is the idea that employees working remotely are less productive because of at-home distractions and a lack of accountability; this can cause office workers to feel undervalued.
To combat this, be sure to set up a time and place for group meetings (online or in-person) where all employees are present. Use this time to demonstrate clear expectations of both remote and in-office employees; this ensures a healthy work environment by showcasing that remote workers have the same expectations as the office team.
Incorporate weekly meetings
Weekly meetings are a great way to ensure that everyone is on the same page. They also promote a sense of social interaction, which is needed – but often goes overlooked within a remote workforce.
Here, everyone should be allowed to present potential queries, discuss potential issues, and make sure they’re clear on their roles for the week/s to come.