Hybrid Work: Why Do Employers and Employees Want It?

The Covid19 pandemic has changed the landscape of work. Remote work and hybrid work initially presented challenges, particularly around ensuring workers had the infrastructure to successfully work outside of the traditional office. But once the right tools were secured, companies actually saw an increase in productivity and employee engagement. A Gallup survey in April found that 72% of US white-collar workers were still working remotely – and that they prefer it that way.

To keep the momentum going some organizations have adopted a hybrid work model and 70% of companies in a May 2021 Mercer survey said they believe hybrid work is the future. To learn more about the hybrid work model, we have created this guide for you.

What is Hybrid Work? 

A hybrid work environment allows employees the flexibility of choice – working in the main office when necessary, or from a location of their choosing when there is no requirement to collaborate. Some organizations are adopting a hub-and-spoke model where a main office houses decision-making executives, allowing other employees to work from satellite offices that are often outside of a city center and closer to suburban areas.

Pros of a Hybrid Work Model 

That same Gallup poll from April indicated that employee engagement was driven by a number of personal factors including:

• employees’ concerns about safety and health
• individual life situations and outside responsibilities (like care-giving)
• individual strengths (one’s ability to successfully work independently & remotely)
• the needs and requirements of the team with which they work

Hybrid work arrangements accommodate a number of these considerations.

Cons of a Hybrid Work Model

The remote and hybrid work models aren’t perfect. Some of the most common downsides include feelings of isolation and disconnect in remote employees, as well as their experiencing the real effects of zoom fatigue and burnout.

Gallup also indicates that how remote workers are managed is key to the remote work model’s success and employee engagement. Success requires a manager’s frequent communication and consideration for the individual experience of employees – as well as care for their overall well being.

How can we quickly adapt to the hybrid work model?

A ready-made option for remote, hybrid and hub-and-spoke models are co-working facilities like Beachworx. These spaces are equipped with the infrastructure required for remote work – high speed wifi, meeting rooms with teleconferencing abilities, printing and scanning, kitchenettes and amenities.

Once the space for start-ups and freelancers, large companies now understand that co-working facilities meet the needs of the enterprise level client. These spaces give many employees access to a professional office environment, ensuring continued collaboration and camaraderie, with flexible lease terms not usually found in traditional real estate.

Take a virtual tour of our Destin, Florida co-working space and contact us to learn more about our co-working and remote work solutions.