A lot has changed over the last year, including how we work. Some of those changes will be temporary—goodbye masks, hello handshakes. Others are likely to persist. Exhibit A: working remotely. Both employees and business leaders have discovered the value of remote work.
Even so, going fully remote might not be right for every employee at every business. That’s why companies like Ford, Citigroup, and Microsoft are plotting their route to hybrid work.
It may not be uncharted territory, but there are some benefits and potential pitfalls worth considering. Here’s your orientation to the world of hybrid work.
What is hybrid work?
Hybrid can mean different things depending on the company. It might mean that some employees work in the office and others work remotely. Or it could mean that all employees are in the office a few days a week and work remotely for the rest of the time. Exactly how you structure your hybrid work arrangement depends on the needs of your business and its employees.
Whatever hybrid work looks like for your team, here’s what you should consider as you map your path.
1. What do employees want and need?
Some employees work better at home. Others have too many distractions when they’re outside the office. Communication and collaboration still need to happen. Think about how you’ll structure your hybrid work environment to best meet everyone’s needs.
For example, you might ask everyone to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but give them the freedom to choose where they work on other days.
2. How will you support communication and collaboration?
Whether you’re working from the office or from your kitchen table, managing communication can be challenging. Hybrid work may not solve this problem, but it can create more opportunities for face-to-face interaction than remote work.
Helping hybrid employees communicate and collaborate doesn’t have to be difficult. But it does require some thought. Consider scheduling a weekly or bi-weekly in-person meeting where everyone can touch base. You might ask all members of the same team to come into the office on the same days each week.
3. Does your workspace make sense for hybrid work?
Moving to a hybrid work model may mean that employees spend less time in the office. An employee who works from home 80% of the time may not need their own dedicated office. Consider whether the commercial lease you’re paying for is still worth the expense.
Should you downsize or look for a more flexible workspace. If so, an executive suite that offers private offices plus coworking space might be right for you. That way employees who spend the most time at work can have dedicated desks, while those who drop in and out can rotate through the coworking space.
If a more flexible workspace sounds like the right place to build your hybrid work environment, consider College Park Executive Suites. We offer private offices for 1 to 3 people, coworking spaces with dedicated desks, and on-demand coworking spaces. Plus, our two conference rooms make it easy for you to meet with your team or clients.
Contact Jackie today and be in your hybrid workspace tomorrow.
