Hybrid work combines the best of both worlds—the flexibility of working at home with the productivity of an office environment. It allows employees to choose when and how much they work, while still getting the support they need to succeed.  In this post-COVID world we find ourselves in, hybrid work is becoming the standard way of working.

Why hybrid work makes sense for businesses

The trend toward hybrid work is not necessarily new.  For years businesses have realized that the current 9-5 work from an office strategy wasn’t working.  Employees continued to push for more autonomy in the workplace, yet many resisted, choosing instead to hang onto the old ideas.  Then COVID happened and we all were forced to work from home and found we could actually do this and be successful.

There are several reasons why hybrid work makes sense for companies. First, it helps you attract and retain top talent. 30% of employees in recent surveys have indicated that they would change employers if they were forced back into a full-time in-office job. In the era of the “Great Resignation,” hybrid work has been shown to reduce the quitting rate by as much as 35%.   And with it taking as many as 2 years for a new employee to obtain the productivity of the one who quit, it can have a significant impact on the overall productivity of your business when you lose an existing employee.

Second, it gives them access to a wider pool of candidates.  How?  To start, you are no longer tied to your physical geographic region for hiring new talent.  When your office is full-time in the office you have two options.  Someone who is local…or someone who is willing to move to be local.  But if your workplace is hybrid and encourages employees to work where ever they work best, your ability to hire outside of your geographic region is expanded.

Third, it reduces costs by allowing employees to work remotely.   Think about it.  Less traffic in a physical office space that you need to not only procure but maintain, heat and cool and make sure the lights are on means you can use less space, less energy, and less heating or cooling.   It is estimated by Global Workplace Analytics that for every employee that works remotely, a business can save up to $11,000.  Now multiply that out by the size of your business…

Fourth, it improves employee satisfaction.   A survey of British corporations found that among employees who had the choice to work from home and/or the office, 65% of them were satisfied with their jobs and employer while those working full-time onsite (53%) or full-time remote (57%) were happy.  As you can see, when employees are given the ability to choose, they report a higher satisfaction rate.

And finally, it boosts productivity.   No, really.  It does.  Recent studies by Stanford found that an enterprise of 16,000 employees saw a 13% increase in productivity from the group of employees who worked on a hybrid schedule and after giving every employee the ability to choose, the rate increased to 22% more productive than previously.

How to choose the right hybrid work tool for your needs

A hybrid model combines elements of both traditional office environments and remote work. It allows employees to work at home some days and in an office other days. This type of arrangement is often referred to as “flexible workspaces.”  And having the right technology for your needs is crucial to the success of flexible working.

Consider this.   How will your customers know which number to call to reach the right department when the department isn’t always in the same place?  What about teammates?  How will they collaborate when they aren’t in the same cubicle?

This is where technology comes into play.  Unified Communications tools can find you where ever you go with features such as find me/follow me, mobile applications, instant messaging, and more.

Learn more about how Unified-Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) can help you achieve success in your hybrid-work goals.