Advantages and Disadvantages of a Hybrid Working Environment

A hybrid work culture is one where employees work from home and in the office. Hybrid working environments became quite common during the covid pandemic when companies and employees were forced to find at-home or hybrid solutions to minimize exposure.

Thereafter many companies recognized the improvement in employee productivity and retention as well as reduced overhead costs and continued to consider hybrid working environments.

Companies with dedicated office staff are better suited for hybrid work, mainly where administrative tasks and meetings can be done virtually. There are several types of hybrid workplace options:

1. Firstly, offices can choose dates and hours when employees are in the office versus working from home. Common combinations include having all employees present Tuesday through Thursday but working from home Monday and Friday or working in the office Monday through Wednesday and taking Thursday and Friday to work from home.
2. Secondly, employees may be given the freedom to choose the days themselves. Some companies provide this option when employees have certain family obligations such as regular personal appointments or family obligations where they are better suited to work from home certain days of the week.
3. Thirdly, offices may have a hybrid solution where staff members work from home until such time as there are meetings or days when collaboration has to happen, in which case everyone works in the office on a more impromptu basis.

Advantages of Hybrid Working

There are several advantages to initiating a hybrid workplace as long as that hybrid environment has measures to counter the disadvantages.

Good Work-Life Balance

One of the most attractive advantages of hybrid working is the ability to maintain a good work-life balance. Employee burnout can severely disrupt retention rates and make it difficult for companies to keep overhead costs at a minimum. When employees are overworked and don't have a good work-life balance, they are more likely to quit, not choose to work with a company when they are looking for a job or demonstrate a sharp decline in productivity. Hybrid working solutions help companies:

• Improve the mental health of their staff members and, in so doing, increase retention rates;
• Improve the attractiveness of the positions available within a company and, in so doing, increase talent management.

Saves Employee's Travel Costs

Many employees enjoy considerable savings through hybrid working environments. These savings can look different for everyone:

• Some people enjoy reduced travel costs, not having to spend as much on gas or vehicle repairs driving to and from the office daily.
• Some people enjoy reduced daycare costs because they are home when their children get home from school, meaning more of their paycheck stays with them.

More Freedom and Flexibility

Companies can enjoy increased productivity when employees are given hybrid opportunities to work on different tasks when they are most cognitively able. Instead of forcing someone to work on a creative task when they aren't feeling particularly creative and tired, working from home means that the same employee can wait to tackle the creative task until they are more awake and focused.

Increased Productivity

Many people are much more productive when they have the opportunity to work from home. There are multiple reasons for this. Some people are more effective because they can wake up and start their work day without having to endure an extensive commute. This lack of commute can also lead to better time management, improved mental health, and better sleep quality. And companies do not worry about this schedule because they can track employees by the time and attendance systems to keep it all under control.

Therefore, a company can significantly benefit from a hybrid work model due to increased employee productivity.

New Opportunities for the Company and Lower Costs

For companies, one of the biggest advantages of hybrid working is the reduced cost. Companies can spend less money on large business spaces or bills for electricity, heating, air conditioning, or janitorial staff.

When companies can provide hybrid working solutions, they have the flexibility to hire top talent from multiple areas, not just people in the local vicinity, which opens the company up to increased opportunities.

These cost savings might, in some cases, be foisted on the employees who end up shouldering that burden in the form of things like increased electricity bills at home.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Working

While many people enjoy the idea of hybrid working, it has its disadvantages.

Employee Isolation and Communication Problems

When employees revert to communication via text or email alone, it can result in communication issues. Sometimes messages are not perceived the way they were intended, something that could be easily rectified when people have face-to-face conversations. Other times employees don't get a notification because companies have to use multiple platforms for communication, and employees might have yet to check every single platform every hour for potential updates from someone else.

This can increase employee isolation and make it harder for management to check on the mental health of their staff members.

Difficulty Maintaining Productive Routines

Productive routines can be complicated when employees are allowed to work from home, especially if other members of the family are working from home or going to school from home.

Where an employee may have been focused on their job at the office, they may be less able to focus on meetings or tasks when there are disruptions from children, demands for household tasks to take place concurrently, or the allure of setting work aside to do other personal things.

Employee Burnout

For some employees, the instability associated with hybrid working can lead to burnout. Employees who become comfortable with a hybrid solution may react poorly when that solution is altered or rescinded entirely. Corporations that allowed hybrid solutions for several years may have employees who made choices such as where they live, or their children's school schedules based on a set hybrid working environment. Any changes to that set hybrid working environment can lead to higher employee burnout.

Cyber Risks

One of the most significant disadvantages is the increased risk of cyber security issues. Companies have much more control over cyber security when everyone is working within the same company network, on the same company internet, and in an organization where a dedicated IT security team may be present. When individuals work from home, it increases the risk of things like:

• Lax security, where individuals use personal workarounds to share information or contact one another;
• Employees using personal cell phones and other personal devices instead of secure company devices;
• A high risk of viruses or malware finding their way onto company products like laptops, cell phones, and tablets given to employees who work from home.

Overall, there are advantages and disadvantages to hybrid working environments. Hybrid working environments look different from one company to the next. Some companies have to try different versions of hybrid working environments to find the one that works best for their employees. No matter which version is integrated, it's essential to find ways to highlight the advantages while minimizing the disadvantages