Hybrid Working

You’ve probably heard of hybrid working before (if not, have you been living under a rock?!), or are part of a company that uses hybrid working.

The pandemic brought many changes to businesses, some good and some bad. One that has continued to be a topic of conversation is the desire for more people to be able to work from home.

If you need people onsite, for example, at a restaurant to serve guests or at a dental practice to keep those teeth nice and white, then your staff would have little choice in where they can work. But, for admin roles or the like, work can be flexible! It can be done at home, at a coffee shop, heck it could even be done in your car! (Don’t ask why that would be the case, we don’t know either.) All you really need is a laptop or a phone and a good internet connection to get you started.

Is Hybrid Working worth it?

Some employers are not so sure about the hybrid working era, maybe due to fear of less work being done, but there’s more evidence that showcases employees’ productivity actually increases when in a comfortable environment (like at home).

Fewer distractions occur when working from home compared to in an office, plus there would be no need to travel or work within a specific time frame!

A recent report from the ACCA – UK Talent Trends in Finance 2023 – found that the UK is leading the way in hybrid and remote working. Jamie Lyon, head of Skills, Sectors and Technology at ACCA, said: One-fifth of respondents in the UK identified as fully office based, with the remaining 80% either adopting a hybrid approach to work or being fully remote. However, globally, the picture is notably different, with over half of respondents being fully office based. And 77% of respondents in the UK feel they are more productive when working remotely.”

What Can Hybrid Working do for your business?

Many companies are already letting staff use hybrid working conditions. But if your business isn’t one of them, you may want to consider adding this as an option. It can provide so many benefits, including:

Being more inclusive for employees who find it difficult to juggle their home and work life around specific office hours.
Greater productivity.
Improved employee well-being because they have more control over their working and home life.
Greater flexibility in allowing employees to change their approach based on what the business needs at a particular time.
Reduces the amount of office space needed which lowers costs, plus, if you can let out that specific portion of the office building, you may even gain additional income from it.

Now, we know we said some employers are not so keen on the idea of hybrid working or working from home, but some employees feel the same. Some people just prefer office settings as they thrive in social environments. So, keep that in mind when creating your hybrid working policies!