The future of the working environment - office, home or hybrid?

Understanding remote and hybrid working environments

If you take a look at the work environment, then you will notice that it has undergone rapid changes in the past couple of years.

No longer are we stuck with a solid 9 to 5 plus the hour or so spent in traffic. Instead, there are different work models that work for baby boomers, millennials, Gen Z and everyone in between. As technology advances and the world progresses, so do our thinking and opportunities in terms of work.

Industries are making room for out-of-office work with remote work and hybrid work models. We take a closer look at these work models and the challenges they face.

Remote work

There’s no doubt that Remote work is a hot topic trending among job seekers. More and more people are looking into remote working as it offers so much more freedom.

Remote working was already trending before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has only become more popular since then. The main reason is that before the pandemic, there was no real reason for most businesses to consider it. And as we know, many prefer to stick to a business module that is tried and tested.

Today, there are many businesses that offer remote work and permanent office jobs. Some have moved over completely to remote working, removing the shared office space from the equation.

Remote working offers flexibility to employees and expands the work field for employers who now have access to a wider field of talented workers while at the same time reducing their overhead costs.

Hybrid work environment

Other companies still believe in the benefits of in-office work but don’t want to limit their access and potential. So, instead of choosing one or the other, they incorporated a hybrid work module that offers remote working and in-office work possibilities.

This gives employees the opportunity to get the best of both worlds. If you’re getting cabin fever at home, then you can choose to work at the office for the day instead. While some companies give complete freedom in terms of where you choose to work from, others have a rotation list where you get to work from home on certain days, and on other days, you are required to work from the office.

The hybrid work module is especially beneficial to those who struggle with feelings of isolation or are unable to maintain a work-life balance.

Benefits of remote and hybrid work modules

Both of these working modules come with a range of benefits that make them a good option for companies to implement.

1. Higher Productivity Levels
   Research shows that remote working leads to increased productivity as there are fewer distractions, and people get to have a higher output during their most productive hours.
2. Better Work-Life Balance
   It is also proven that with these work models, it becomes easier for employees to maintain balance in their personal and professional lives, making them much happier in their work environment.
3. Less Expenses
   On top of that, these modules lead to less expenses for both employees and employers. You get to save on your commute and work wardrobe. And employees don’t have to fork out big bucks to keep and maintain an office space.
4. Access to Talent
   The job pool is also less limited. You can apply for jobs in any location across the world. You don’t have to stick to the limited options in your town. And for employers, the global doors are open, giving them access to the most talented individuals looking for a job.

The challenges

While these work modules have many benefits, they also come with their fair share of challenges.

1. Effective Communication
   One of the biggest challenges can be to ensure communication and collaboration between co-workers. Remote working gives you more space but can also cut you off from proper communication with your team. With in-office teams, there are meetings and direct one-on-one conversations that boost productivity and better understanding of tasks. It also makes it easier for individuals to work together.
2. Cyber Security
   Another thing we need to address is the increased levels of threats in terms of cyber security that apply to remote working. Companies want to protect their data, which is more possible when working in the same environment. With remote working, there are vulnerabilities that could leave the company exposed.
3. Adapting Performance Evaluation
   When working from home, the traditional performance evaluation methods don’t necessarily apply, which means that companies need to incorporate a new evaluation method for those remote and hybrid work models.
4. Well-Being Worries
   One thing that became a big challenge during the pandemic is employee well-being. We saw an increase in mental health problems and concerns due to isolation. With remote working, it can be easy to fall into the trap and victim to mental health issues.

The challenge is creating a more productive remote working environment while ensuring that workers still have opportunities for social interaction and care for their mental health. In this regard, the hybrid work module can be highly beneficial. Whereas remote working still has to look into ways of countering this issue.

The future of the work environment

Like all other areas, the work environment will continue to evolve, and opportunities will increase. Remote and Hybrid working modules hold a lot of potential and can lead to a more effective and productive workforce.

However, there are plenty of challenges that companies need to identify and find solutions to ensure that the benefits can be reaped without falling into a slump or suffering long-term consequences.

The ideal is to create a system that benefits both employers and employees. The work environment may be reshaped, but it isn’t altered completely. The future of the industry is definitely in keeping and improving all three models of work.

Giving a choice of work environments allows different individuals to enter the workforce with a working module, which makes them the most productive. Some people are most productive at home away from distraction, while others find it difficult to focus on their own environments and need the daily routine and socialising opportunities that in-office work provides.