Hybrid Work Model Enhances Employee Satisfaction & Increases Productivity – Here are More Benefits!
With the lifting of covid lockdowns worldwide, the companies have started offering hybrid work arrangements to the workers, giving them the flexibility to combine onsite & offsite work.
The hybrid work model is appealing to the employees returning to the office post-pandemic as it allows them the freedom to enjoy the best of both worlds. In the physical office setup, employees can experience the advantages of collaborative, in-person relationships. While they can work remotely on tasks that require a profound individual focus.
According to a survey of 3,480 remote workers at Slack, it was found that 63% of their employees preferred a hybrid working model, where 20% wanted to work remotely full time, and 12% wanted to return to permanent in-office work.
This preference for work within a hybrid work model was even more evident among workers aged 25-34, who predominantly expressed a desire for hybrid work.
However, creating a hybrid workforce that fosters collaboration, productivity & growth requires mindful planning as businesses continue to evolve & adapt in the uncertain post-pandemic world.
Here are the benefits of the hybrid work model that will enhance employee satisfaction, lead to happier employees, and will increase their productivity!
- Improved Work-life Balance & Employee Satisfaction
The hybrid-work model has a positive impact on the employees as it’s offering them flexibility & freedom that they have been yearning for years. The arrangement helps employees to work both from the distraction-free workspace in the office and from the comforts of the home, resulting in a healthier work-life balance, which greatly enhances employee satisfaction. Work-life balance is an essential aspect of a healthy work environment, as it prevents burnout and minimizes stress. Burnout can impact employees’ mental & physical health resulting in depression, hypertension, and heart diseases. According to Harvard Business Review – the physical & psychological issues arising from burnout cost organizations in the US between $125 and $190 billion a year in healthcare spending.
- Increased Productivity
The hybrid work model also increases productivity as a result of greater flexibility. Employees that are happy and have a flexible work life are likely to be more productive. A recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report shows that more than half of managers believe their teams are even more productive working remotely. Hybrid work culture also reduces absenteeism as employees while working from home can still work even if they have a minor health issue, instead of taking an entire day off.
- Improved Collaboration
Unlike a remote working model, the traditional office-based environment in the hybrid work culture allows employees efficient in-person communication and collaboration, conducive to a stronger work relationship & a healthy work environment. It helps in knowledge sharing, and can also help in getting a mentor. The physical setup creates relationships, sustained by water-cooler chats, lunch outings, and impromptu celebrations.
- Enhances Mental Health
Though employees enjoyed the perks of working from home. However, the workers who thrived in the office settings felt intensely lonely & alienated and disengaged while working from home during the pandemic, for them the reopening of offices is a blessing. As per one survey, around 65% of adults experienced increased feelings of loneliness during the pandemic. In hybrid work culture, all kinds of employees can thrive (the ones who like working from home, and also those who prefer physical set-ups), as it offers the best of both worlds, resulting in increased happiness and enhanced mental health.
- Improves Trust between Employer & Employee
One of the most important aspects of a healthy work environment is the presence of trust between the employers & the employees. By offering the flexibility to work from both the physical office set-up and the comforts of home, the employers win the trust of employees resulting in better engagement, productivity gain, loyalty, and greater respect for the organization. And workers prove to their employers that they are just as productive, if not more so, working remotely as they are when in the office. This will reduce the attrition rate, reduce hiring, onboarding, and training costs, and contribute to the long-term success of the company.
- Saves Commute Time & Reduces Carbon Emissions
In a hybrid work model, employees have to commute less, which saves time and reduces carbon emissions. Employees can use the saved commute time to start working earlier, resulting in more productivity. As per a report, in 2019, the average time for a one-way commute in the US was 27.6 minutes, which is equal to 5 hours per week.
However, in cities like New York and Dallas, the average time when commuting by public transport is around 53 minutes. This adds up to nearly 10 hours per week and almost 40 hours per month. According to a 2019 survey published by the TUC, average UK employees will save about an hour every time they get to work remotely.
- Offers Flexibility
Another advantage of the hybrid work model is that it offers more flexibility. While working from home, employees can structure their day and use their breaks to complete essential tasks like visiting a doctor, dropping off kids at school, or grocery shopping. When employees can fit their job around their other commitments rather than structuring work around fixed hours, they become happier and more productive.
- Reduced Business Costs
It is expensive to maintain swanky offices. Free from the logistical constraints of housing a large in-house workforce, organizations can invest in technology, employee wellness programs, and expanding their businesses. Also, satisfied employees mean companies can save on staff turnover and hiring expenses. Thus, the hybrid work model also helps in reducing business costs.
Conclusion
The hybrid work model offers a work-life balance as it allows employees to work remotely and from the office. It reduces the commute time, which can be used more productively. It allows flexibility to employees to fit their work around their lives, rather than structuring work around fixed hours. Also, a hybrid model can prevent the spread of coronavirus as workers who get unwell can work from home instead of coming to offices. This work culture also benefits employers as it reduces operational costs, increases employee satisfaction, and results in greater productivity and better business results.
In a study of 3,500 workers worldwide, 81 % of employees said they used public transit to commute to work, and of this group, 67 % were concerned about commuting when they returned to work. This anxiety among employees is causing them to reconsider their jobs. This could result in increased turnover, also called a turnover tsunami. As per a study by Fortune, almost 50 percent of employees working remotely or in a hybrid model say they will look for a new job if they are forced back to the offices by employers after the pandemic ends.
Companies of all sizes are waking up to the benefits of a hybrid workplace model. Though the hybrid model is not ideal for all business types, by introducing the right tools, software, and strategies, this model could lead to more satisfied employees, better business results, and increased profits. However, companies should choose what suits their organization’s specific needs and their employees.
