As we approach the end of an unprecedented and disruptive year and edge closer towards a vaccine; it is safe to say that employers and employees a-like have felt a little more comfortable with allowing the thoughts of returning to normalcy creep back in. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought about a new normal in the sense of work-life and space.
According to a study conducted by Microsoft’s Work Reworked research most leaders of large enterprises in South Africa are looking at adopting a more hybrid way of working on a more permanent basis.
Though the research indicates that employees still place some value in working partially in an office and consequently maintaining relationships with colleagues; hybrid work has yielded positive results for employers and employees such as increased productivity, a better work-life balance, and decreased costs related to office space.
Most companies have a remote-work policy in place and office space is used on a rotational basis with only some employees in the office at a given time. The pandemic forced a move towards digital technology, cloud-based systems, and at-home office spaces.
This is not to say there aren’t challenges to hybrid work. Maintaining your company culture, pushing for innovation, and managing remote employees presents challenges for employers to overcome. However, if you foster a collaborative environment, encourage new ideas and keep connected with employees and teams the benefits of remote work and the hybrid office are sure to increase through to 2021. Embracing hybrid work and ensuring your office is hybrid work functional could bolster your office against the next big disruption.
Sources:
#EvolutionofWork: Most big business to permanently adopt hybrid work-style https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/752/210376.html
Rise of the hybrid office https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/610/209958.html