What is Hybrid Workplace Culture? What are the Benefits?

What is Hybrid Workplace Culture?

As functional structures of businesses undergo transformations periodically, the rapid pace of emerging technology solutions means that global organizations are increasingly relying on IT infrastructure to improve operational efficiency, optimize the utilization of resources, and reduce the reliance on office infrastructure to deal with business requirements.

On the other hand, the role of human resources in an organization stands as an impeccable asset, and the organization's understanding and alignment with the changing preferences of human resources attract the talent pool to continue working with the organization, adapted to contemporary developments.

One such development is the hybrid workplace solution.

A hybrid workplace culture refers to a combination of both remote and in-person work. The hybrid workplace culture allows employees to have the flexibility to choose where they want to work and when they want to work, while still maintaining a sense of community and connection with their colleagues and the company.

Such a culture is becoming increasingly popular as technology makes remote work more feasible and as companies strive to create a better work-life balance for their employees.

Following are some of the segment statistics depicting the growing importance of hybrid workplace culture. 

• According to a survey by Buffer, 99% of surveyed companies in 2020 offered remote work options, with 70% of them offering hybrid work options.
• A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 46% of companies currently offer hybrid work arrangements, with an additional 20% planning to do so in the future.
• Another survey results from the International Association of Remote Workers (IWG) found that 30% of workers would like to work from home permanently.
• According to a report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the shift to hybrid work could increase productivity by 4% to 12%.
• According to a report by the consulting firm KPMG, 78% of companies surveyed plan to increase their use of remote work in the future.

These statistics demonstrate that more and more companies are offering hybrid workplace culture options to their employees, and that the trend is expected to continue in the future. 

Benefits of Hybrid Workplace Culture

The structure offers several benefits for both employees and employers. Some of these benefits include:

• Increased productivity: Remote work can increase productivity by reducing distractions and allowing employees to create a work environment that is most conducive to their needs.
• Better work-life balance: A hybrid workplace model allows employees to have more control over their work schedule, which can lead to a better work-life balance.
• Access to a wider pool of talent: By allowing employees to work remotely, companies can expand their talent pool and recruit from a wider geographic area.
• Cost savings: Remote work can save companies money on office space and other expenses.
• Improved employee satisfaction: A hybrid workplace solution can lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention, as it allows employees to have more autonomy and flexibility in their work lives.
• Improved communication and collaboration: A hybrid workplace culture can improve communication and collaboration among employees, as it allows for more frequent and informal interactions among team members.
• Greater flexibility to respond to disruptions: With a hybrid workplace culture, companies can more easily adapt to disruptions such as pandemics or natural disasters.
• Reduced environmental impact: Having more people work remotely can reduce the amount of energy used in transportation and office spaces.

Many companies have implemented a hybrid workplace culture; let’s look at some examples.

Microsoft

In 2020, Microsoft announced that its employees could work permanently from anywhere, with some exceptions for certain roles. This move has allowed its employees to have more flexibility in their work lives and has helped the company to attract and retain talent.