We all working peeps were grinding through our nine to five jobs, braving traffic jams every day to reach the workplace, and busy ourselves with the daily office chore confined in a cubical most of the time. Then in 2019, the dreaded covid pandemic hit the world, forcing everyone to lock themselves up in their homes.
Companies were forced to adopt new norms for their workforce that ushered in the new era of working from home or remote working. The cubical and daily grind through the traffic was gone, and instead of the office, it was our kitchen table that became our workplace.
Since then, the pandemic has subdued, but the new working norm seems to have set in. Companies have realized that there is no going back to the old ways. They have to work up a solution that combines both traditional and latest working methodologies – a solution that can reconcile the way of doing work remotely and in person. The solution advanced by many companies has resulted in a hybrid workforce and seems poised to take over the business environment.
Hybrid Workforce and how does the workplace change?
The hybrid working model allows the workforce to alternate between the office and remote work. Recent studies have revealed that employees working in the new environment have shown significant improvement in productivity, mental health, and lower stress levels.
Today, the office is no longer a closed, four-walled space. The pandemic revolution in workplace culture and the latest advancements in communication and security tools have led to a new phenomenon of hybrid working. The result is a new hybrid workforce and work from anywhere culture that provides a more flexible and productive environment.
Hybrid workforce and New opportunities
Remote working has opened new avenues for talent acquisition, significantly expanding the talent market. With the hybrid working model, companies are no longer confined to hiring local candidates; instead, they have a much broader scope of candidate selection. Employees, on the other hand, also have several benefits. They have much more flexibility in working conditions and job opportunities.
Hybrid Workforce and Technology
While pandemic was the precursor for a hybrid workforce, technology is undeniably the main force deriving the hybrid work culture. Productivity tools, cloud-based applications, and intelligent technologies have all facilitated the wider adoption of a hybrid work environment. Companies have also heavily invested in intelligent tools that allow smart collaboration and constant connectivity between remotely working individuals.
Hybrid workforce and sustainability
A strong sense of sustainability is also a contributing factor to the broader adoption of the hybrid working model. Latest trends indicate that employees are more likely to commit to companies that offer a good balance between in-person and remote working opportunities. Better talent acquisition and the possibility of attaining a workforce for a longer duration translate to better workflows, improved organizational structure, and better resource allocation to specific areas for optimal growth.
Hybrid workforce – Conclusion
A hybrid workforce offers countless benefits over the classic office models. It was adopted to counter something which totally disrupted everyday life, and since then, it is increasingly becoming a new normal. It provides a more robust work-life balance. Moreover, it also allows companies to expand their talent base and surpass the barriers of region and state for talent acquisition.
