For many employers, the term “hybrid work environment” is becoming an increasingly familiar one. Both workers and business owners have struggled with going fully remote, but hybrid work continues to offer a favorable compromise. For many, it’s viewed as the best of both worlds. Plus, there’s no denying that it’s been mostly successful so far. Hybrid work models have been adopted by 63% of high-revenue growth companies, according to Accenture. Meanwhile, 69% of businesses with negative growth or no growth refuse to offer employees hybrid options. A simple conclusion can be drawn from this data: the future belongs to flexible models, such as hybrid work environments.
We are increasingly using technology to enable remote or hybrid work, and the results are promising. However, while the technology is universally used, there is still no consensus on the best way to manage it. It’s crucial to remember that the concept of work is changing rapidly, and hybrid work environments are still in their infancy. Below, we’ll examine what’s currently working and what isn’t to draw out lessons for business leaders and employees.
What’s Working: Analyzing Workers’ Needs Using Reliable Data
Today, there are a variety of ways to analyze how workers feel about hybrid work environments. Engagement data, behavior tracking and self-reporting tools allow employers to adjust their methods in real time. Worker satisfaction can be improved by learning what your workers need to collaborate efficiently and then implementing those changes. Business owners can fine-tune their hybrid work models in an infinite number of ways. Ultimately, there’s no excuse for not connecting with your employees or understanding their needs.
What Isn’t Working: Companies Assuming They Know What’s Best for Workers
Everyone knows what Elon Musk thinks about remote work, but businesses would do well to forge their own paths. The hard truth is comments like these only alienate workers. The facts don’t lie: workers prefer a hybrid work model over 80% of the time. Offering hybrid work is an excellent way to attract and retain workers. Keeping this in mind, you should provide your employees with the tools they need to succeed by listening to them and empowering them. Providing an optimized hybrid work environment shows workers that you value their need for flexibility.
What’s Working: A Focus on Problem-Solving
Few businesses can transition to a hybrid work environment without experiencing some hiccups along the way. However, the most successful companies face these problems and work to solve them. For example, let’s say a business owner wants to offer 2-3 days of remote work per week but is concerned about client data security. One solution might be for workers to verify that they have a private space to work in. This shows employees that they are trusted to make sound, autonomous decisions. Self-certification may not work for every company, however. There is also the option of investing in remote technology with enhanced security procedures. Regardless of the final decision, resolving the problem (even if it takes time) is better than abandoning hybrid work.
What Isn’t Working: Zoom Team Building
Video conferences are necessary at times, but they aren’t always successful. This is why maintaining a team atmosphere in remote and hybrid work environments is a challenge. According to a 2022 survey by Robin, 46% of professionals report that team assimilation is a current issue. Business leaders should take this to heart. Zoom team building is only going to get you so far. In the office, you should be devoting time to building team connections and fostering a collaborative environment. A proper balance should be struck between in-person socialization opportunities and video meetings.
Why Should You Partner with 1Rivet?
1Rivet’s core foundation is ensuring client success, and we make sure to deliver value and quality work as a strategic partner to our clients. For more information on hybrid work environments, please email us at info@1rivet.com
