Page 4 - PA_Enterprise_April-May_2021

PA Enterprise

The Hybrid Workplace:

What it is, why it matters, and how to

implement it in your workplace

A hybrid approach aims to provide an optimal balance of productive work

with reduced stress and less commuting. But will it work? And is this really the
future of work?

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were a What is a Hybrid workplace?
strange and chaotic time for workplaces around
the world. The hybrid workplace is a business model
combining remote work with office work. Similar
Many organizations went from asking themselves to how schools offer a hybrid learning approach,
if a remote work environment was a possibility, to it a hybrid work environment blends in-office work
becoming the only viable option. Almost overnight, with remote work.
millions of people around the world traded their Hybrid work includes increased freedom and
daily commute for a short walk to the kitchen.
autonomy around when to work, and where. It
For the most part, it was a successful generally allows employees the opportunity to
transformation. Liberated from the confines fit work around their lives, rather than structuring
of a physical office, some employees found work around fixed hours logged into an office.
themselves thriving during the pandemic. This For many employees (and employers) it’s an ideal
challenged the previously held assumption that scenario as it combines autonomy with sociability
remote work environments hinder productivity. and structure.
Even occupations we never could have
envisioned working remotely—lawyers, financial A hybrid workplace may look different among
planners, doctors, therapists—all transitioned organizations, but it typically includes the onsite
successfully. presence of a skeletal staff, while others are free
to come and go as they please, within reason . It
By early summer, as restrictions began easing could be the same employees mandated to be
in some areas, the attention shifted to bringing onsite, or it could include a staggering of different
people back into the workplace. But employees people present on different days or times.
weren’t exactly begging to come back—at least Or, there may simply be specific days where
not in the same capacity as before. The pandemic employees are requested to attend in-person
had forever changed us, and there was no turning meetings.
back. Employers suddenly found themselves at
a crossroads, trying to appease employees while A hybrid approach aims to provide an optimal
balancing business and productivity goals. balance of productive work with reduced stress
and less commuting.
This paved the way for a new workplace model:
The hybrid workplace.

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4 April/May 2021