The concept of the hybrid model of work has been there even years before the global pandemic (Covid-19) may have accelerated the process.
The arrival of Covid-19, acted as a catalyst forcing people to rethink about their physical space of work.
In today’s fast paced environment, the companies are constantly on the lookout to increase their efficiency and improve the operations.
During the first wave, several sectors made a shift from work-from-home to the hybrid model. But what is this hybrid model of working?
Let’s discuss it!
Hybrid Model
The Hybrid model provides flexibility to the employees to work from anywhere, be it from the office or from the comfort of their homes, or any location, one deems fit for working.
By removing the isolation and the feeling of a lack of community, this blended system takes on a people’s first approach and addresses things such as increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Adding to the benefits from remote work are flexibility at work, better environmental experiences, increased job satisfaction, better team collaboration & hands on experience,
The Need for Hybrid Model
The era of digitalization has empowered and presented employers with a powerful tool.
What seemed impossible a few years back, seems quite easily achievable now.
For example, let’s assume that you are a small business owner from India and someone from South America who likes your products can get easy access to them by utilizing the right channels.
Social media has also played a vital role in setting this remote work model in motion!
Freelancing, combined with the power of social media, has proven how effective and feasible it is to work based on this model.
The debate between which mode is better cannot be settled with the traditional system or the remote one, with both having its advantages as well as drawbacks.
Some of the professions based on this model are blogging, content writing, content creators, etc. So why not try out a new model which blends both in order to have the best of both worlds?
Types Of Hybrid Models
There is no one size that fits us all in this system.
There are a few different kinds of hybrid model depending on the needs of the organization and it’s employees. They are as follows:
Flexible hybrid working model: Under this model, the employee can decide based on their project the location and work environment. For example, if an employee feels the need to collaborate with their team members, they might choose to come into the office.
On the other hand, if they feel like they require some peace and quiet they may pick to work from home or from a coffee shop/bookstore.
Now isn’t that more productive?
Office first working model: Under this type of hybrid model the company requires its employees to work on-site except for a few days on which the employee can choose to work from home.
Fixed hybrid model: This system lets the company fix a few days for their employees based on their project/department. For example, one department goes to work on Mondays and Tuesdays while other’s go to office on Thursdays and Fridays.
Remote first working module: Sometimes a company may not have a designated office or workspace for their employees and may request them occasionally to meet up at a common area which they deem fit. Under this model the employees work remotely, and coordinate with the team members as and when required.
Benefits of Hybrid Model
Increased Productivity: The hybrid model has significantly maximized the productivity of employees by cutting down on office preparation and time required to travel.
In other cases, employees who deal with creatives might find the office environment to be stringent and require a freer environment without their manager’s being around to facilitate the creative process.
Essentially an ideal working environment should have flexibility, adaptability.
A company which follows these provides a more suitable and happier environment for its employees. With the option of not commuting in a busy city and spending more time in a peaceful and familiar environment gets the work done more effectively.
Reduced Expenses: A business is always looking for ways to reduce costs of running their business, with hybrid mode the cost of running a physical office is cut down. In addition to this utility bills such as electricity, phone bills, Wi-Fi charges are also cut down.
Better Employee Retention: A hybrid model can improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover by offering more flexibility and work-life balance. Additionally, a hybrid model can allow employees to work from locations that are more convenient, which can save time and reduce commuting costs. Overall, by offering a hybrid model of working, employers can create a more attractive workplace that fosters employee loyalty and retention.
Disadvantage of Hybrid Model
Data Breach: One of the most vital disadvantages for companies working under this model is data breach. Risks such as cyber-attack, data loss etc. As a preventive measure companies may come up with some strategy to minimize data and privacy breach, one such example being multiple factor authentication.
Isolation and communication gap: Independence at work is vital, but working under the hybrid mode, one may become too comfortable with working alone. This may lead to them viewing other people as a source of distraction and to some extent even bothersome. Lack of in-person interaction may lead to isolation.
Communication gap: Under the hybrid model there might be communication gap.
For example, a team may have in person meeting on some topic but the same might not get relayed to another member of the same team who may be working remotely on that day. Hence, creating a good communication structure would be very useful in this mode.
In general, the hybrid model combines best of both the worlds, which is the traditional office system and remote working to achieve a balance.
So is hybridity as we may say might very much be the future, choice is the future.
Similarly, in the context of data analysis or machine learning, a hybrid model can leverage the strengths of different algorithms or models to achieve higher accuracy and robustness. Ultimately, the key advantage of a hybrid model is its ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to provide a tailored solution to a particular problem. By embracing a hybrid model, individuals and organizations can unlock the full potential of their resources and achieve better outcomes.