Working 9 to 5 in grey business districts while living off sandwiches and bad coffee is becoming a thing of the past for many companies and employees. Ever since the pandemic ended, they have been forced to adapt to new business models, including hybrid work. Supposedly, it should increase satisfaction among workers, increase work-life balance, and have a positive effect on productivity. The benefits of hybrid working seem obvious, but is everything so sunny and bright in the new state of business mind?

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In this article, we discuss both sides of the hybrid work coin to better understand what this means for you and your company.

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What is a Hybrid Work Arrangement?

This type of setup is best described as a flexible working model that combines traditional 8-hour office work with a home workplace or any other type of remote environment. Unlike remote work, where employees have complete independence on where they work from, the hybrid model insists on occasionally coming back to the dedicated desk, attending meetings, and carrying out duties.

For instance, it is possible to stay at home on Mondays and Fridays and then visit the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. One of the main benefits of this setup is that it enables employees to set their schedule, thus reducing stress and improving their quality of life.

Hybrid Work in Numbers

For some companies, the benefits of hybrid working are nothing new, but it is no secret that this trend has stepped into the mainstream in the past couple of years. Here are some numbers that might surprise you:

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• American technological research company Gartner claims that 49% of the entire workforce in Germany are remote and hybrid workers;
• YouGov survey found that workers in Western and Northern Germany are more open to hybrid work;
• The same study claims that highly educated workers are more prone to hybrid working;
• Addeco found that 50% of Swiss are already enjoying the benefits of hybrid working;
• St. Gallen University study shows 62% of all the Swiss would prefer a hybrid working model over the traditional one;
• 35% of employees in Austrian companies seek the benefits of hybrid working more than before;
• 13% of Austrians are ready to quit if their company asks them to come back to the office in the traditional 5-day format;
• Certain German industries are less inclined to adapt to the hybrid model, most notably the printing industry, at 48.4%, and automotive manufacturers, at 43.2%.

Benefits of Hybrid Working for Employees

What are the exact advantages of hybrid working for those who just a few years ago had to eat lunch at their desks? Gallup, an American multinational analytics and advisory company, conducted an extensive study on how employees see the benefits of hybrid working, and here are the most notable points:

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• Hybrid work benefits start with the flexibility to find the working environment that suits employees as individuals.
• Both personal well-being and work productivity are increased thanks to hybrid working.
• 67% of employees claim their time management is more efficient.
• 58% of participants report less fatigue and burnout.
• 22% find the coordination to be much easier than in person.
  

Challenges of Hybrid Working for Individuals

In addition to the benefits of hybrid working, the same study acknowledges certain disadvantages:

1. Lack of efficient working tools.

2. Weakened connections to the company, its culture, and other colleagues.

3. Frequent interruptions.

That being said, it is worth noting that the hybrid model is new for the vast majority of companies, especially in more conservative industries, such as finance and consulting. It can be assumed that many of these issues are nothing but growing pains. Through the help of effective software such as Flexopus, managing flexible working can be more efficient and easier than ever.

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Benefits of Hybrid Work for Employers

The advantages for employees may seem rather obvious, but you might be wondering what is in it for companies. It is no secret that many companies prefer to have complete control, and hybrid working seems like it would give them exactly the opposite. What we have seen clearly is the fact that companies can benefit by combining remote work with standard business models, with the key points being:

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• Reduced office costs;
• Decreased hiring costs;
• More free revenue;
• It is easier for companies to embrace green and sustainable business practices;
• Workers will be less likely to ask for a raise as remote working cuts down the costs of commuting.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Working for Companies

Despite all of the hybrid work schedule benefits, there are still some disadvantages that companies need to be wary of:

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• Hybrid work may be more challenging for industries and projects that require a lot of daily coordination;
• Companies with mutual interdependence may actually lose more time than they save;
• The fear of decreased productivity may cause additional stress.

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The majority of academic research on the benefits of hybrid working is focused on companies that have less co-dependency between different teams and individuals. We hope future research will look to highlight the differences in hybrid work between diverse types of companies and the internal structures they use, providing a deeper understanding of this progressive working environment.

How to Advance the Hybrid Working Model

Even the best research is nothing but data analysis, often prone to different interpretations to fit the theory. Instead of focusing on numbers, companies must start making the necessary changes today to stay ahead of the curve. After they have experienced the benefits of hybrid working, employees are not fond of going back to their cubicles, so management must then seek to optimise their experience.

An understanding of the current state of mind, perspectives, and needs on one hand, along with business goals, risks, and challenges on the other, can provide valuable insight and help with the development of sustainable strategies focused on hybrid work.