Hybrid work has been the predominant work mode amongst many companies for the last two years, and more and more employees want to continue working in this format. At the same time, a flexible work schedule is among candidates’ requirements when looking for a new job. Thus, companies try to enter the recruitment market by offering motivating extra salary benefits, so they become more attractive among the professionals they want to hire.
Hybrid work is still present in organisations, both to keep employees safe during professional activity, but also to give them the necessary flexibility. From here, we can say that this way of working remains a priority for people, being considered the new normal in the professional workspace. In this article, we will present the importance of hybrid work, how it can be carried out in an effective way, and what other aspects employers should take into account.
The importance of having a mixed work system
Hybrid work is not a new concept, but, during the pandemic, it changed its importance from a useful or “nice to have” to a must for most organisations where possible. It is also a system that allows carrying out the necessary activity to keep people in the company, in the context of the new phenomenon called “The Great Resignation” by specialists.
Effective hybrid work brings autonomy for employees, more flexibility and high performance from all departments in a company’s organisational chart. A healthy organisational culture contributes to these aspects, and the company can thus develop constantly. A 2021 study by Accenture shows that 63% of large and growing companies have already adopted work-from-any-location models. Additionally, 85% of people who feel they can be productive from anywhere say they plan to stay with the company for a long time. Employee retention is one of the most talked about topics lately, and hybrid work seems to represent a significant advantage that can be offered to employees to keep them in the organisation.
Benefits of hybrid work for employee mental health
Working in a hybrid format can have many advantages for employees from a mental health standpoint. For this reason, employees should consider this option whenever the possibility allows them:
More adaptability to employees’ needs
Some employees want to work more from the office, and others want the opportunity to work from home as much as possible. In this context, to meet their preferences and keep them engaged and satisfied with the professional environment, hybrid work adapted to their needs is an effective solution. “Companies that focus on a workplace experience – regardless of where – will achieve better employee engagement and better profitability,” also says Niamh Graham of Workhuman.
A well-established plan, effective communication and understanding people’s needs are essential elements when talking about the success of a company where hybrid work is implemented. Of course, the culture found inside the organisation is also a determining factor for the business to develop permanently.
Better productivity
There are enough company managers who believe that employees must be supervised, otherwise they will no longer give the same performance. A study commissioned by Microsoft established, however, that over 82% of participating companies maintained the same level of productivity during the pandemic, with employees sent to work from home.
Increased employee satisfaction
There is no doubt that the COVID virus has had a profound impact on mental health worldwide. Isolation, health problems and economic uncertainty caused a staggering 27% drop in self-reported mental well-being at work across all segments and populations. Through the Hybrid work system, employees will be able to physically go to the office, an aspect that facilitates human interaction and ensures much easier communication. The fact that employees work when and where they want is one of the main reasons that give satisfaction to employees. They no longer waste time in traffic, and instead spend more time with their loved ones and have time for themselves – all this increases the level of satisfaction of employees and translates into increased efficiency in professional activity.
Final thoughts
Companies have understood that a rigid working approach does not bring many benefits. More than ever, employees value the freedom to organise their work as they please, without being conditioned by a specific space.
Requiring employees to work exclusively from the office is no longer a solution, especially since they have proven that productivity and efficiency are not conditioned by their presence at the company headquarters. On the other hand, the lack of interaction can become harmful, generating long-term health problems and other dysfunctions. A hybrid work system turns out to be the solution that brings together the advantages of both systems and which, until now, seems to be the most sought after and adopted by organisations.
Supporting employee mental health both at the office and home
SupportRoom values flexibility. This is the main reason why we have designed a mental health platform that does not require people to book therapy sessions weeks in advance. We want employees to access support fast and easy, which is now possible by signing up for a SupportRoom plan.
