Salary can no longer adequately address employee satisfaction. Besides pay raises, being valued and having a healthy work-life balance are essential for today’s workers. These factors also hold significant importance for recruiting and keeping top talent in the current competitive job market.
When seeking and choosing jobs, 72% of people in the U.S. prioritize work-life balance as a defining feature. This often means having sufficient time to perform the job, spend time with family, and pursue personal leisure activities.
Implementing a hybrid work model is a strategic move that can provide a better work-life balance for employees. Below, we’ll discuss how creating a balance between working from home and at the office can contribute to the well-being of employees.
But before delving into the inner workings of a hybrid working environment, let’s examine the differences between remote and in-office work.
Working From Home vs. Working at the Office
Technological advancements in the workplace have created varied work settings for employees. Specifically, working from home and at the office have emerged as significant parts of the modern workplace.
Each setup comes with a different set of challenges that prevent companies from fully adopting them. Likewise, they provide numerous advantages that employees and employers alike can enjoy. We’ll differentiate the two working setups below and explain how each can affect employee wellness.
Work environment
The environment of traditional in-office work is well-equipped with great desks and high-quality computers. However, the ability of employees to customize their office space could be restricted. Meanwhile, remote workers can often design their workspace for optimal productivity.
Although office environments have distractions, they’re usually fewer than when working from home. The office space is designed to improve privacy and minimize ambient noise. Employees may easily get distracted by pets, household chores, and family members when working remotely.
Schedule
Remote work enables employees to establish a flexible schedule that accommodates their various obligations. They may have increased flexibility in when to start and end their workday and where they work from. They can work from anywhere as long as they have a solid internet connection.
That can benefit workers with other commitments, like picking up their kids from school. Alternatively, there’s no flexibility when working at the office. There’s a structure for the whole day, as they have to clock in and out simultaneously every day. It also means they’re less likely to slack off.
Commute
Working from home removes the need to commute to the office, which can be a source of stress for employees. Depending on their location, not commuting to work can help workers save several hours a week.
Likewise, not having to travel to work enables them to save substantial amounts of money on gas or public transit fees. On the other hand, those who work at the office need to factor in their commute time when planning their work schedules.
Collaboration
Working remotely facilitates more focused work. However, it can hinder teamwork among employees. It’s easier for individuals working from home to feel isolated from their colleagues. This can also make it harder for workers to build relationships and collaborate more effectively.
In contrast, in-office work allows employees to meet each other physically, enabling them to bond and communicate faster. Without the communication barriers of remote work, those working at the office can efficiently work together to design project plans.
Work-life balance
One of the advantages of remote working is better work-life balance. Because of increased flexibility, employees can attend to their personal commitments more easily. Conversely, in-office work can negatively affect work-life balance due to extended working hours and commuting.
It’s worth noting that working from home can also create a blurred separation between the worker’s professional and personal time. In-office work settings can be more advantageous, as employees can leave their work behind, allowing them to focus solely on their off time.
Balancing Remote and In-Office Work: A Hybrid Approach
Hybrid work is a flexible arrangement that combines working in an office environment with working from home. The hybrid work model can take various forms. The specifics of each setup depend on the organization and the nature of the work being performed.
Let’s delve into the hybrid work models commonly used among organizations and how each balances remote and in-office work.
Fixed hybrid work model
Under this hybrid work model, there’s a guideline or predetermined schedule for employees working in the office and remotely. For instance, the organization may require workers to work at the office or remotely during certain weekly hours and days.
That will allow employees to schedule appointments or run quick errands on specific days of the week. Companies looking to provide flexibility but still value face-to-face interaction can benefit from this setup.
Likewise, this structured hybrid approach is common in offices that serve clients or necessitate consistent in-person collaboration.
Flexible hybrid work model
This hybrid model lets employees choose when they work in the office or remotely, depending on their needs, preferences, and priorities.
Suppose they need some isolated time to focus on a project. They have the freedom and option to work remotely. Similarly, they can work in the office if they need to participate in a town hall, attend a training session, or desire a sense of community.
Companies that operate on this approach believe that giving workers the autonomy to choose their work location contributes to increased happiness and productivity.
Remote-first hybrid work model
Remote work is the default of this model, but there are occasional visits to office space for collaboration, training, and team building. The company that implements this working setup may not have a physical office. Instead, they may depend on nearby staff to gather at their convenience.
Meanwhile, some may also retain office space so employees can occasionally work from there. However, all the operations and policies are specifically structured to align with the needs and requirements of remote work.
Office-first hybrid work model
This model prioritizes in-office attendance for most workdays but provides employees with flexibility for remote work. In most cases, workers have a day or two every week or several days per month to work from home.
Companies whose productivity relies on team collaboration can benefit the most from the office-first model. It enables the workforce to accomplish tasks while enjoying the flexibility and space for individual work.
How Hybrid Working Improves Employee Wellness
The adoption of hybrid working models isn’t merely a matter of chance. It’s fueled by their substantial benefits to employees and companies. A hybrid workforce offers a unique opportunity to improve employee wellness in the following ways:
Increased flexibility and autonomy
A rigid in-office work environment can stifle creativity, causing employees to be less productive. Although less interaction and more autonomy in remote work help individuals become more creative, several factors can also affect their productivity at home.
A hybrid workplace enables employees to have more control over their working hours. This increased flexibility and autonomy makes them feel more empowered and trustworthy. Employees can concentrate more on their tasks and become more productive as they work based on their preferences and priorities.
Better physical and mental health
The hours employees save commuting give them more chances to invest in their physical and mental health. With the hybrid working model, they can allocate more time for regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and good quality sleep.
Likewise, the comfort of being at home and going to the office at will can help reduce stress, resulting in a healthier and happier workforce. Organizations that have adopted this approach also witness more engaged and productive employees.
More opportunities to upskill
Upskilling helps boost employees’ morale. With a hybrid working setup, they can spend more time honing their skills at home. They must also learn to perform different tasks at home and in the office.
Creating a learning culture within the workplace can help address time management challenges and technological barriers in a hybrid setting. A comprehensive company-wide guidance on best practices for hybrid working environments is an excellent start to upskilling employees.
Positive social connections
When properly implemented, a hybrid working environment helps build positive social connections in the workforce. It enables companies to balance critical business functions requiring in-person interaction while letting employees have personal time.
Although part of the work is remote, a hybrid approach empowers the workforce to develop relationships with coworkers. Plus, various creative ways exist to collaborate and connect with other employees remotely.
Having the right communication tools is essential to finding a balance between working from home and at the office. The choice between a cell phone vs landline is a key consideration for optimizing communication in a hybrid work setup. A reliable landline is often recommended to ensure uninterrupted communication when connecting with team members remotely.
Healthier work-life balance
The right mix of remote and in-office work allows employees to get adequate time for the job and personal commitments. It gives them the level of flexibility and adaptability they need. Since a hybrid approach embraces the best of remote and in-office work, employees can have a healthier work-life balance.
Prioritize Employee Wellness in a Hybrid Work Setting
Managing a hybrid workforce demands a different leadership style. Before shifting to a hybrid work setup, take the time to consider the nature of work and employee preferences. Involving workers in planning is a good idea to design a hybrid work setting that accommodates their needs.
Supporting employees with the appropriate principles, tools, and training will lead to a more motivated and higher-performing workforce. All in all, it will foster seamless communication and promote a sense of cohesion among the team, regardless of where they are working.
