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Flexible Working and the Hybrid Workplace

Humankind has come a long way following the path of innovation. Every day, we see new trends in the market led by high-tech technologies. One such trend in this modern landscape is hybrid working: an environment in which employees follow a flexible approach to working. It is usually a combination of remote work and in-office days. Employees get the freedom to choose their own workplace as per their need, i.e., on some days they can work from home while on others, they can work from the office.

It is an ideal approach for businesses that don’t want to adopt a fully remote work culture. A hybrid workplace is a revolutionary concept, but it is limited to employees only, especially office workers. Frontline or desk-less workers cannot benefit from it since they have to be physically present to do their job. When we talk about hybrid workplaces, it is important to understand the concept of flexible timing or working.

What is Flexible Working?

Flexible working is an arrangement that facilitates the employees with more autonomy over their mundane workday, workplace, and procedures. People are no longer tied to desks in an office as per a flexible workplace. It has three basic elements:

Hybrid Working: Giving your employees the freedom to work from the place of their choice, be it home or office.

Across Offices: Allowing your workers to work from different offices or co-working spaces, even if they are not in the same city as your operating office is.

From Anywhere: Allowing your employees to work from anywhere in the world. Most companies like LinkedIn and Spotify are planning to impose full-time work from home norms for their employees, even after the pandemic.

Further extension of flexible working could be a 4-day week or 7-hour days, allowing people to make a work/life balance.

What Does It Require?

Culture Change: Companies like Hubspot have been advocating for hybrid and flexible work for a long time. All thanks to the pandemic that the world is acknowledging it now. All you need to do is create a culture that allows your people to work in ways that suit them.

Digital Tools: Providing your employees with just a computer and a headset won’t serve the purpose. They should have access to all the documents and information. Not only this, but they should also be able to collaborate with colleagues, work on projects, and must feel part of the company.
All of this can be achieved via a digital workplace model that connects you and your employees regardless of your geographies.

Improved Engagement: Digital modes are prone to facing lesser employee engagement. People may not show up for virtual connects. Hence, you need tried and tested ways to engage them.
Moreover, you also need better employee management to help them make a work/life balance while staying productive.

What are the Benefits?

As a part of your flexible working strategy, you need to invest in communication and collaboration tools to benefit your organization and employees. Flexible working helps you:

Improve engagement: by making a positive impact on workers’ behavior, resulting in them bringing invaluable benefits to organizations.

Improve productivity: with time and settle in the new normal way of working. 33% of employees believe that they are more productive at home.

Widen talent pool and enhance retention rates: by attracting new people and giving them reasons to stay.

Barriers to Flexible Working

Many organizations lack clarity on how different profiles of workers will fit in with flexible arrangements.

Shortage of effective and efficient digital tools that can help boost productivity. Moreover, people find it difficult to adjust to new technologies they have no idea about.

Lack of open and transparent internal communication to help employees understand how they can avail themselves of flexible work options.

Dangers of Flexible Working

Overworking: Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, remote workers are spending an extra 2 hours a day on average working. In such cases, people feel the need to overcompensate because they fear that their employers don’t believe they are working hard enough since they are invisible at home.

Difficulty Switching Off: People working from home are 1.4 times more likely to be unable to disconnect at the end of the day, i.e., when office hours end.

Disconnect: Only 14% of employees feel connected. It is because when your employees feel overworked, they can start to disengage and disconnect from their work.

The Secret to Making Flexible Work for Your Business

Flexible working, backed by hybrid workplace culture, provides the employees with choices in where, when, or how they work. It helps you build a more inclusive workplace while ensuring that people are making a fine balance between life and work, and they are accommodating their needs.

An ideal way to achieve flexible work is by having an employee experience platform that supports everyone’s needs. The more you are concerned about the needs and well-being of your employees, the more they value you and your organization.

Here, at Titan Workspace, we help you implement flexible working in your organization. Get in touch with us to know how we can help you.

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