The coronavirus pandemic has upended the way we work. Employers have been forced to re-invent work for the digital age. Telecommuting, which was rare, turned into a necessity as more than half of American workers turned into work-at-home population. Of course, some jobs simply cannot be done at home. More employers are agreeing that the traditional 9-to-5 job is dying and that a more flexible approach needs to be adopted to reflect the needs of the modern workers. With the gradual return to the office arrives a new set of workforce models acting as an antidote to the good ‘ol sea of cubicles. For major companies like PwC, Unilever and Microsoft, hybrid models are the future of work, particularly post-pandemic.
A hybrid work model is the new-age workplace model that allows employers to reshape existing office layouts, attract talent across geographic barriers, and increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. A growing number of companies have also seen the positive impact remote working has had on employee engagement and productivity. As companies try to decide the best way forward for their employees, it’s clear that the hybrid workforce model is the way to go.
What is a hybrid workforce model?
A hybrid model is one that combined aspects of remote working and in-office working. It generally grants more autonomy around when to work as well as where. A company that has adopted a hybrid approach to work can have one or more offices where a portion of their workforce regularly works from office, while the remaining workers work remotely. The hybrid workforce model is completely different from a fully remote model of working, in which an organization does not need an office and everyone works remotely.
Types of Hybrid Work Models
The HR Digest found three different types of hybrid work models being offered to the modern workers: hybrid, split and fully remote.
1. Fully Remote Model
This hybrid workforce model is best suited for the digital nomad. It allows workers to carry out their job duties from wherever, whether that’s their grandma’s patio, a shared coworking space, or on top of the Himalayas.
As appealing as the fully remote model of working may sound, it comes with several challenges for employers and their workers. Even with careful planning a company may fail to bring people together to celebrate and socialize. With workers split across different time zones, it may get difficult for companies to solve problems, collaborate on projects, or even innovate.
2. Split Model
A split model is where one team is divided into two or more offices. Their offices are interdependent and could be thousands of miles across the globe or right across the street from each other. A split working model allows the team to operate just like a hybrid team, with each half working remotely from the other.
3. Hybrid Model
A hybrid model is a blend of remote working and office working. This means that a small portion of the workforce could be working in a fixed location while the rest of the employees are working remotely. It offers workers a range of options to choose from, which typically include an in-office option, a remote option, and a flexible work option where employees work from an office two to three days per week. It’s attractive from a recruitment standpoint as a growing number of Gen Z and Millennial workers seek to work with progressive companies where work-life balance is easy to achieve.