Ever since COVID turned the world upside down, employees everywhere have switched rapidly to the new “work anywhere” environment. Cloud technology and collaboration tools provide workers with the support they need to stay productive, even when they’re not in the office.
So, what does this mean for the future of work?
Well, while some people can work easily from home and maintain the same outcomes, others don’t do as well. Not everyone wants a full-time remote experience. More importantly, some jobs simply aren’t cut out for remote work. That means that companies are beginning to consider the hybrid workforce more seriously. According to one study, 55% of US workers want a mixture of office and home working. The same trends are beginning to appear around the world.
Hybrid workforces could provide an excellent set of benefits to today’s businesses – if used correctly. You can have the best of both worlds with your employees.
But is there a darker side to remote working? A potential for remote vs office employees?
Understanding the Hybrid Workforce
Hybrid, for many businesses, is the ultimate step forward for the new future of work. It opens the door to all the benefits of remote working, like fewer overheads and reduced need for real-estate, while still leveraging the benefits of people being in the office. Hybrid work ensures that employees can fit their career around the rest of their lives, with some days at the office, and some at home.
There’s also the potential for companies to structure their hybrid workforce however they choose. You may have some all-remote workers, and some who stay in the office. It’s a much more flexible way to find out what works for your staff. According to Stanford university, even when the pandemic subsides, working remotely at least two days a week will be the best way to balance quiet and collaborative work for team members.
So, what’s the problem?
Any process that divides people is rarely without its challenges.
There’s a risk that some employers may be deemed “unfair” when they offer some employees the chance to work remotely and fail to do the same for another segment of the workforce. It’s also worth noting that some people in the work environment today simply won’t be able to work from home.
Not everyone has a quiet and secluded space that they can work from away from the office. Some people will struggle to manage things like children, pets, and a simple lack of space if they’re squashed into a smaller home environment. For these people, it may feel as though they’re being forced to work from the office because they’re not lucky enough to have the right home life.
Could Hybrid Work Cause Issues?
When cliques form in the workplace, it often leads to a sense of isolation for at least some employees. There’s a risk that remote workers who spend more of the time away from the office will form their own community through video calls and collaboration apps, causing the people inside the office to wonder what’s going on.
