Should you work from an office? Or should you allow employees to work from home? How about both? Hybrid working is a business model that is becoming more popular, allowing employees to work from home on certain days, while coming into the office on other days.
Work-from-home days may be designated. Alternatively, employees may have the choice to choose when they work from home, providing that they work a certain number of days in the office each month.
What are the benefits of a hybrid working model? This post details a few of the biggest advantages and why you may want to consider adopting this system for your business.
Freedom to concentrate and collaborate
Hybrid working is good for both concentration and collaboration.
When it comes to work that requires a lot of focus and minimal interruptions, employees have the option to work from home. While home life does have its distractions, studies show that most employees find it easier to concentrate at home where they don’t have chatty colleagues to contend with.
Meanwhile, for tasks that require a lot of collaboration such as brainstorming or consultation sessions, employees have the option to come into the office and speak to people in-person. Although there are plenty of online tools for enabling collaboration working remotely, there are still many situations when in-person collaboration cannot be replaced.
A chance to be closer to or get away from home life
Working from home allows people to spend more time with family by cutting out commuting. It also makes it easier to take time out for home commitments such as picking up kids from school, walking dogs or letting in tradesmen to carry out home maintenance tasks like repairs and servicing.
At the same time, employees are able to get away from home on certain days so that they don’t feel too housebound. This makes it easier to create boundaries between home life and work life.
Company growth without having to upsize office
Hybrid working can also allow companies to grow without having to upsize to a bigger office. Because not every employee will be in the office at the same time, you do not need desk space for every employee and can share desks to save space.
This could mean more options when it comes to office space to rent, and cheaper office running costs. All in all, it’s a great way to grow your company without spending too much in the process.
Ability to monitor employees and give them space
A hybrid working model also allows you to keep an eye on employees while also giving them space to work independently. You can use the days when they’re in the office to catch up and discuss any concerns that you or they may have. Meanwhile, you can let them get on with work on the days they are at home. It’s a great way to ensure a healthy balance between managing and empowering employees.
