The era of remote work was exciting while it lasted. But with the pandemic showing signs of subsiding (not to mention the high overall vaccination rates), companies are deciding whether they want to call their employees back into the office full-time or adopt a more sustainable hybrid workplace setup.
Well, companies from Silicon Valley and beyond already seem to have picked a side, and they are leaning towards a hybrid workplace. And it looks like employees are too.
A recent study reveals that 63% of high-growth organizations have embraced the hybrid workplace model, whereas 83% of employees prefer this arrangement. And, why won’t they? After all, hybrid working models award workers a genuine chance to improve their work-life balance.
But the advantages of a hybrid work environment go far beyond the obvious. Here are a few benefits of a hybrid workplace, we need to talk about a lot more. Let’s dive in.
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The Top Advantages of a Hybrid Workplace You Cannot Ignore Anymore
1. Reduces Fixed Costs
Hybrid working arrangements provide businesses with a golden opportunity to reduce their real estate footprint. If employees work from an office in rotation, you do not need an elaborate infrastructure. You also do not need to assign row after row of desks with employees’ names.
Companies can simply redesign the same space for different tasks, depending on employee needs. They can include standing desks for employees provide lounge chairs, group desks, and soundproof rooms for meetings or formal or informal catchup, for instance.
Since companies will know how many employees will show up at the office in a week, they can get creative planning for new occupancy levels. Simply put, they can do more with less space and save on steep costs of electricity and other utilities. They will also cut down on rent, office supplies, and other business-related costs.
2. Boosts Productivity
A few HR professionals and managers were skeptical that if employees were provided with the flexibility to work from both home and office, they’d end up working less.
But, the opposite seems to be happening! A recent study by Microsoft showed that a whopping 82% of company leaders across Europe admitted that their organizations remained at least as productive as before the pandemic regardless of the hybrid workplace model.
It’s not that hard to see the logic in this. The time and effort employees save while commuting to and from the office during peak traffic hours every day adds to their total working hours. Add to it that they also have the flexibility to work any time they feel creative.
This, in turn, boosts productivity. Perhaps, some of your employees are early birds, while others are night owls. The hybrid workplace model allows them to be in their element by working at their chosen pace and time while still adhering to deadlines. So it is no surprise that employees produce better quality work in a hybrid workplace setup.
3. Creates a Wider Talent Pool
When you’re not open to remote or hybrid workplace hiring, you end up employing people from a certain location. This may exclude individuals who are highly skilled and experienced but, don’t wish to work with you, simply because of an undesirable location.
But in a hybrid workplace, location is not a barrier to talent. This means you can employ people from different geographies without worrying about physical presence, and hire employees for location-specific roles if your company demands it. What’s more, you open the doors to a more diverse workforce through this practice. Also one, that is more productive and engaged, and will likely stay with you for longer.
A 2020 recruitment survey by Hays reflects the same. It reveals that over two-thirds, or 66% of leaders surveyed admitted that extending remote roles improves both talent attraction and retention.
4. Keeps Employees Happy
When you allow hybrid workplaces and practices, it declares your trust towards your employees. This wins you their life-long loyalty. The hybrid workplace model awards employees a true sense of autonomy through a flexible working model, which is the key to employee happiness and satisfaction.
It is no secret that happy employees are far more dedicated and productive than those who feel their time is mortgaged with their organization. No wonder when Accenture interviewed over 9000 employees, a whopping 83% admitted they preferred the hybrid workplace model. They say this model brings together the best of both worlds.
Over to You
The hybrid workplace model has allowed employees to embrace both work and life equally. Safe to say, it is here to stay, even once the pandemic is entirely behind us. Therefore, instead of moving away from this model, it would be more sensible to invest in technologies that facilitate seamless hybrid workplace practices.
One such technology is the all-in-one hybrid workplace solution WorkInSync. This sophisticated software enables employees to book a desk, conference room, or cubicle, manage bookings and gain insights, among a range of other things.
Remember, when employees get to work in their favorite office nook, they look forward to coming in as and when required. besides, the hybrid model also awards them the flexibility to choose when and where to work from. This boosts productivity while reducing office and overhead costs for companies. So, if you’re invested in the idea of a hybrid workplace model, invest in a hybrid workplace tool today.