With tech giants like Apple and Google clamoring for a return to the workplace, it is out of place that you may be considering that your workers do the same.

But is this really the best choice for your employees and the organization? Are your employees truly likely to perform better working on-site? How does remote working affect their performance and your organization’s in general?

We will answer these questions in this article, so let’s dive into it without further ado. 

Both sides of the remote work argument

Apple recently set a deadline for employees to go to offices at least three times weekly. This past April, Google implemented a hybrid work schedule, and Tesla has mandated employees to be in offices for a minimum of 40 hours weekly.

However, many employees are fighting back (including theirs) and insisting they do excellent work, working remotely, with 92% of the respondents in this Remote Work survey we did, claiming they have all or some of the necessary tools to make this happen.  

On the other hand, many organizations believe that more productive work is done when employees work in office, and they get the right to dictate how the people they pay to work for them do so.  

And they would be correct. At least the latter part is.  

However, while tech giants can “bribe” employees back to offices, most companies can simply not afford to do so and would miss out on remarkable employees if they forced them back to on-site workplaces. 

So, an excellent way to reconcile both sides of this argument is by adopting a hybrid workplace model.  

Hybrid workplaces: making your hybrid workplace attractive for your employees

Hybrid workplaces are the middle ground that appeases proponents of both remote workplaces and physical offices. In a Stanford survey, 55% of the respondents claim to prefer hybrid workplaces. 

What does this mean for organizations in favor of on-site work?

It means they have a chance to adopt an on-site model while appeasing talents that may prefer to spend some time working from home.  

So how can you create an attractive hybrid workplace? 

• Create flexible workspaces and working hours.
• Revamp the layout of your office. A strategy that companies implement is to have fewer desks than people to promote activity-based working, friendly competition, and social interactions among colleagues on the days they come into the office.
• Offer foreign sponsorship to foreign employees. If you are going to have a hybrid workplace, this is one good way to stand out from other companies and retain the best talents from around the world. Instead of a homogeneous team, make your hybrid workplace a blend of ideas and inspiration from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Do not contact your staff outside working hours.
• Prioritize mentorship.
• Embrace video conferencing. 

Remote work vs. hybrid work: advantages and disadvantages 

Advantages of a hybrid work model: 

• More efficient workplaces. The office is usually less crowded, providing more opportunities to create an efficient space for those on-site.
• Suitable for all kinds of workers.
• Access to an extended pool of talent.
• Lower operational costs.
• Increased productivity.

Disadvantages of a hybrid work model:

• Possibility of a division between remote workers and on-site workers.
• Business leaders will be compelled to adopt new managerial styles.
• Difficulty in maintaining cultural norms.
• Difficult collaboration between employees.
• Managers who work predominantly offsite or on-site may favor teams they interact with most often.
• Hardware needs and other tangible items.
• Not applicable to all organizations.

Advantages of a remote work model: 

• Provides cost advantages to both employers and employees.
• Increased employee productivity.
• The freedom to work anytime, anywhere.
• Zero commute time.
• Spending more time with family.
• Fewer distractions from colleagues.
• Expanded talent pool. 

Disadvantages of a remote workplace: 

• Remote employees may get lonely.
• Remote work can negatively affect engagement and morale.
• Certain business activities within some industries are unsuitable for remote work.
• Increased distractions.
• Could lead to a decrease in work-life balance.
• Remote work could cause an absence of relationships among coworkers.
• Could cause a reduction in employee visibility.

Conclusion

With employees adopting the new remote and hybrid ways of working, companies that examine which of the two models benefits them the most and switch accordingly are bound to have employees willing to go above and beyond to meet the organization’s goals.