The physical office has not been the same since 2020. Once office workers had to adopt new working practices and get used to remote work, many workplaces realized that the old way of doing things was not necessarily the best one. As a consequence, the hybrid model of office work is now everyday life for many workplaces.
Although hybrid work brings some challenges with it, a well-planned hybrid office design makes it possible to combine both in-office and remote work, while getting the benefits of both.
What is the hybrid workplace?
Although there is no fixed definition for what constitutes a hybrid office, it usually refers to workplaces where work takes place remotely for some days of the week, while other days are spent at the office. Hybrid work also refers to an arrangement where some employees work from home full-time and others spend at least part of their working hours in a physical office space.
Most workplaces that have adopted the hybrid work model have established their own rules and conventions for working remotely and going to the office. For example, some hybrid workplaces can have a desk dedicated to each employee or use so-called hot desks that can be used for the duration of the workday by everyone. In the end, a successful hybrid office space is one that caters to the needs of all employees, including remote workers, and the work they do.
What are the benefits of hybrid work?
Hybrid work has a number of benefits for both employees and the hybrid workplace as a whole. These include increased flexibility in scheduling the workday, better work-life balance of employees, and more economical use of office space. When employees do not need to arrive at the office every day, they save time that would otherwise be spent on commuting. Hybrid working also improves productivity when employees are allowed flexible work according to their preferences and life situation.
Alternating between in-person and remote work
Most office workers prefer having the opportunity to decide between working from home or at the office for most of the week. Instead of the office being a place where the employees have to go day after day, it can be an environment they get to use for specific occasions and tasks. The hybrid office has also a place for people who never work in person at the office. This allows companies to hire talent regardless of their physical location.
Establishing a better work-life balance
Finding the right balance between remote work and going to the office is crucial for a hybrid office. The hybrid model of work also helps employees find a balance between their work and life outside of the work context. As anyone with children and other large responsibilities in addition to their job know, finding enough time for these and your work can be a challenge. However, with the freedom of hybrid work, employees can go to the office when it is most convenient for them and their personal life outside of work.
Increased productivity and employee satisfaction
By improving employees’ quality of life, the benefits of a hybrid office have a positive effect on their productivity as well. When employees are offered variety and the freedom to choose where they wish to work, their quality of work and productivity are improved as well.
Working in a soundproof Framery office pod helps increase productivity by allowing employees moments of recovery throughout the workday. This improves their quality of work and work-life satisfaction.
A report by Microsoft in 2021 stated that the future of work is hybrid and that “flexible work is here to stay”. Thus, if companies want to retain their employees and attract new talent, they need to be prepared for the needs of an open office. However, many workplaces are not fully prepared for hybrid work.
Better use of office space
The office can be designed more freely when employees work some of the time at home, rather than five days a week on location. Fixed workstations are not a necessity in a hybrid office. Instead, employees have the choice of deciding for themselves where they want to work at the office.
Creating a successful hybrid workplace with Framery
In a hybrid office where in-person and remote work converge, the importance of collaboration and good hybrid office design cannot be overstated. However, the hybrid office does not work unless it is designed to fit the purpose, with the right tools and spaces for video conferencing, in-person collaboration, and focused work. To get the full benefit of the hybrid work model, Framery office pods help by connecting in-office employees with their colleagues working remotely.
Hybrid offices are here to stay and Framery office pods are the perfect companion to support employees in the hybrid workplace. Help connect remote workers with the people at the physical office by providing enough soundproof office booths for a single person, such as the Framery One. Larger meeting pods, such as the Framery 2Q, are equipped to fit a small team of four to six people, compatible with videoconferencing technology.
