Hybrid Workplace Model: Pros and Cons for Employers

Hybrid workplace model – the ultimate buzzword of the post-pandemic era. But what is this hype all about?

A year ago we thought that the office is dead. That work from home will be forever.

Now, we are not so certain.

Corporations from all over the world realized that working fully remotely is not entirely good for the business. Nor it is for company culture and employees’ wellbeing.

However, the Monday to Friday, nine to five approach is not an alternative either.

That’s why the idea of taking the best of both worlds became overly attractive. And this is how we ended up with google searches for “hybrid work” skyrocketing over the past few months.

The hybrid workplace seems, so far, like the optimal office space of the post-pandemic era. The goal of the hybrid approach is to provide the most favorable mix of working remotely and working from the office. Ultimately, this should positively impact business performance, company culture, and employees’ wellbeing.

Big corporations from all over the world, including tech giant Apple, are now embracing this approach.

Of course, the hybrid model is not a panacea. But it seems like a decent remedy for the challenges of today’s employers and employees.

If you’re still unsure if hybrid work will work for you, the paragraphs below will help you make up your mind.

Pros of the hybrid workplace model

Decreased cost for office space

Money leakage due to unutilized office space is a huge problem for companies nowadays. It’s an unnecessary cost that can be easily mitigated by rethinking the use of desks.

The hybrid model allows companies to utilize fewer desks without changing the headcount. For example, instead of paying for 1000 desks, a company can cut this in half and ask employees to come on a rotation basis. This concept is known as hot desking or shared desk policy.

Ultimately, it leads to saving valuable resources that can be invested somewhere else. You can read more about the most important hybrid work cost savings here.

Enhanced employee productivity

In a hybrid workplace environment, employees have more freedom to choose when and where to do their job. Some tasks that require focus and concentration can be done remotely. Others, that need interaction with the team, can be done at the office.

The hybrid model provides precious flexibility to employees. At the same time, it doesn’t lead to the detachment from the organization that working fully remotely usually brings.

For example, some people do their best during nontypical business hours (e.g. at night). Still, when the team needs to meet and collaborate, the office space is available.

The combination of flexibility and engagement impacts productivity in a positive way. It allows employees to have a better work-life balance, feel happier and less stressed. Ultimately, this improves their well-being and boosts performance.

Access to more talent

Hiring limitations like location are less of a factor with hybrid working.

A hybrid model allows companies to expand their hiring scope beyond the office/city district. This creates a whole new bunch of opportunities for getting great professionals on board who might not be otherwise willing to apply.

This way, companies can foster talent acquisition, team diversity, and expand their footprint.

Cons of the hybrid workplace model

An added complexity of managing desks, rooms, and visits

Having fewer desks and asking employees to come to the office on shifts comes with a whole new set of tasks and responsibilities for companies.

Who comes when? How many people are at the same time in the office? Who’s managing visits? How to make the process easy for all?

These are all challenges that need a solution.

Hybrid workplace software is without any doubt the most convenient option for companies. A decent one will allow you to enable easy desk booking, meeting room reservation, visitors management, and more.

Because, ultimately, hybrid work should be a seamless experience for both employers and employees.

Employees’ resistance to the return to the office

Prolonged work from home comes with plenty of negatives such as a 24-hour workday, loneliness, and never leaving the house.

But despite the numerous downsides of WFH, the idea of returning to the office may cause a lot of anxiety and discomfort for some employees.

Change is always stressful. It’s human nature to counteract any changes and maintain the status quo. But changes are necessary for progress. And it’s companies’ responsibility to ensure a smooth implementation of every new process or policy.

Identifying the reasons, and involvement and communication are among the most popular strategies for dealing with employees’ resistance to change.

Employees might miss having their own personalized desk

With a hybrid workplace environment, desks become a shared resource. This limits the personalization of workstations – no more family photos, plants, and personal objects.

But this is a necessary step both from a safety and operational perspective. However, it might decrease the overall sense of well-being of employees who are used to having their own space at the office.

Such limitation can be mitigated to some extent by focusing on improving the office and common areas on a global level. For example, you might want to add more plants, hang paintings on the walls, add puffs, etc.

If you want to explore this topic further check out The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Workplace Management. Inside you’ll find everything you need to know in order to implement this work model and make the most out of it. 

And if you’re looking for a software solution that will facilitate the process, OfficeRnD Hybrid is here to help you. Learn more about the product features or book your demo to see the platform in action.