Over the last two years, the world of work has gone through a storm of uncertainty and changes. While established organisations managed to navigate through it because of ample resources, small businesses were intensely hit. Most organisations had to develop extraordinary strength to keep their boats afloat and sail smoothly through it. The best thing they did was to allow their employees to work from home to support their organisations through those unprecedented times. This remote working led to the hybrid workplace culture, which is now seen as the future of work across the world.
More and more organisations are adopting a hybrid workplace culture to offer their employees the necessary work flexibility. However, there’s also a pressing need for a more refined work structure to make everyone feel at ease. According to the 2022 Microsoft Work Trend Index, 38% of employees in the hybrid model struggle with knowing why and when they need to be in the office, and 28% of employers have implemented policies for hybrid teams. The stats don’t depict a good picture.
So, how to make hybrid working easier for employees? These steps can help you create a streamlined hybrid workplace culture so that your employees thrive and support your organisation:
You might also be interested to read: Responsibilities of a Manager in a Hybrid Work Model
Create a hub for teams
Many employees have become comfortable working remotely. However, some leaders believe that working away from the office or not being present in the office does not have the same level of culture or fellowship as a traditional workplace. This is where creating a hub—where teams can collaborate and congregate—can help bridge the gap. The hub should encourage team members to engage in face-to-face interpersonal communication and develop strong bonds.
While remote working may be effective regarding employee productivity and making important business decisions, it does not have the same effect on team bonding and fostering human connection. So, the role of a physical workplace is still relevant. To ensure that teams, both working remotely and on-site, perform at their best, hold off-site or informal meetings from time to time to allow members to know each other and build trust, which is key to job satisfaction and productivity.
Build a responsive workplace for employees
In the pre-pandemic world, employees were responsive to the workplace. After the pandemic, the roles have switched. Now, workplaces have to be responsive to employees. Today, employees have different perspectives about what their work should be like, especially when returning to work after a long time. They want their employers to listen to their needs and implement any changes they want for their workplaces. Considering this change, forward-thinking employers have started building workplaces with collaboration, flexibility, and employee engagement in mind. And it’s high time you should, too.
Focusing on this aspect of employee experience will ensure organisations that their employees are supporting the hybrid workplace culture and giving their best. This will also likely reduce employee turnover since employees feel valued when their opinions are considered for a particular change.
Communicate the purpose of the workplace to employees
As organisations request employees to return to the office, employees want their experience at the workplace to be seamless, motivating, and productive. Simply informing them when they need to come to the office is not enough. Employers need to walk the extra mile and provide employees with the purpose behind their return and the necessary information and tools to help them easily navigate the hurdles they may face during their initial days back in the office.
For teams coming to the office a few days a week or month, managers should reserve desks and systems and convey what they should expect and what they need to get done when they sit together. This will also develop a sense of collaboration among team members, which can go a long way when it comes to achieving targets.
Leverage technology that aids the hybrid workplace culture
As the pandemic brought new workplace challenges, the world of work brought technology to tackle them. Any organisation that doesn’t emphasise including mission-critical technology in their workflow will unlikely achieve a smooth hybrid culture.
Software such as simple health screenings, desk reservation systems, office space mapping and wayfinding, and others, can revamp the whole workplace and help achieve a stress-free and smooth hybrid workflow. So, if you struggle to help your teams support the newly adopted work culture, consider implementing technology into your processes.
Welcomes both synchronous and asynchronous work
It’s no secret that having all the team members in the office simultaneously and on the same day is all employers could ever ask for after the pandemic. But the problem with this is that employees will eventually become dissatisfied if they are not given flexibility unless a vital task requires everyone to be in the office.
Employers must understand that not every employee will be comfortable working in the same time zone as others or have similar working conditions. So, they should emphasise a work structure that supports synchronous and asynchronous work.
In the last two years, the role of leaders has changed significantly. They need to work closely with their teams, whether remotely or on-site, HR, and other groups, to create a streamlined workflow where everyone is connected and on the same page. They must adopt evolving strategies to navigate the changes that continuously impact the workplace, organisation, and employees.
The best leaders can do, as well as encourage their teams to do the same, is to be adaptable, transparent, and connected with everyone on the team. Plus, they should welcome technology to make it easier for members to adapt to the changing work ecosystem. Doing so will create a hybrid workplace culture that keeps everyone together and goes places despite the organisation’s challenges.
Reference:
- 5 Skills Every Team Needs To Support the Hybrid Workplace | Shafath Syed | May 9, 2022
- Take a Teams-Based Approach to the Hybrid Workplace |Kaya Ismail | April 25, 2022
You might also be interested to read: Responsibilities of a Manager in a Hybrid Work Model
