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Infographic - 5 strategies that can make hybrid workforces more successful
The future of work is hybrid, meaning your business needs a hybrid workforce. This is not a new concept, but the pace of change is accelerating. The way we work is changing, and if you want to be competitive, you need to change too. If you haven't considered implementing a hybrid work model or you’re considering scaling back your hybrid workforce, you'll want to reconsider.
Here at the BBB, we have noticed that there are many business trends worth considering when it comes to the future of work — including the more permanent shift to a hybrid workforce.
The hybrid workplace is here to stay
Before the onset of the global pandemic, approximately 60% of the U.S. workforce worked fully on-site, meaning they were physically present at their place of business. However, according to a recent study by Gallup, just over half (53%) of workers who are considered "remote-capable" now have a hybrid work arrangement.
The hybrid work model is here to stay, and the best way for your business to remain competitive is to adapt. The best way to adjust is to consider how the hybrid work model can better serve your current and future workforce.
Start by evaluating your current workforce and determine where your most significant gaps are. Once you have determined your gaps, the next step is to research and consider which hybrid models would be best for your business at this point.
5 Strategies that can make hybrid workforces more successful
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that many businesses operate. Companies must re-evaluate their internal structure to support a hybrid workforce with many employees working remotely. Here are five strategies that can make hybrid workforces more successful:
1. Focus on flexibility
Flexibility has become one of the most essential elements in the success of a hybrid workforce. Roughly 79% of people state that they want some level of flexibility regarding how and where they work and want a voice in how that flexibility is implemented.
The best way for your business to demonstrate flexibility is to listen to your employees and show that you value their ideas and opinions. This will help to increase engagement and build a more collaborative culture.
The good news? Research shows that nearly 74% of U.S. companies are either using or planning to implement a permanent hybrid work model to help accommodate the needs of their employees and provide them with the flexibility they need.
2. Prioritize mental health and stress reduction
In 2021, we saw a spike in the number of people who willingly quit their jobs, citing mental health and stress as the primary reason. One study showed that in 2021, roughly 20% of the global workforce had considered leaving their job because they felt their employers did not provide a healthy work environment.
On average, 54% of workers felt overworked, while another 39% felt "completely exhausted." This is why focusing on mental health and stress reduction is so significant. Companies have since stepped up to the plate, with roughly 40% of employers now working on expanding mental health benefits and services to their employees to ensure they have the support they need.
3. Maintain complete transparency with your workers
Transparency in the workplace has always been a staple for many companies. However, it's becoming more critical now than in years past. One study showed that nearly 87% of workers "hoped" their next job would be more transparent than their current one.
This indicates that workers are looking for more transparency in the workplace, and transparency is critical when building a hybrid workforce. When transitioning to a hybrid workforce, you need to be transparent with your workers about your company's goals and expectations.
However, you also have to be open and honest to your workers about the realities of the transition and what it will mean for them. This is the best way to ensure your workers are on board with the transition and to ensure they are as successful as possible.
4. Consider cutting the unnecessary meetings and check-ins
Zoom fatigue is a real thing, and studies have shown that the more meetings and check-ins a person has, results in not only a decrease in productivity but an increase in anxiety and fatigue as well.
One study by psychologist Jeff Hancock of Stanford University showed that roughly 13.8% of women and 5.5% of men reported feeling "very" or extremely" fatigued after video conferencing.
If your company is transitioning to a hybrid workforce, consider cutting unnecessary meetings and check-ins. This will not only help your workers to be more productive, but it will also help to reduce their work-related stressors.
5. Treat all your workers equally
Finally, you must treat your in-house and remote workers equally. With the rise in hybrid work has come an increase in proximity bias - the unconscious tendency to give preferential treatment to those in your immediate vicinity.
More than four out of 10 executives have admitted that they worry about proximity bias because of the stigma that those who choose to return to a traditional in-office position will see greater success than those who choose to remain in a hybrid role.
If you're planning to implement a hybrid workforce, then it's crucial that you familiarize yourself with proximity bias and put measures in place to ensure that all your workers are treated equally.
More hybrid workforce tips and tricks from the BBB
If you’re considering transferring to a more permanent hybrid workforce, you are in good company. Here at the BBB, we understand that this transition can be a bit of a challenge. That’s why we’ve gone ahead and compiled a variety of resources for you and your team!
Check out the BBB business news feed and the BizHQ for more great tips!
BBB of Southern Piedmont and Western N.C. contributed to this article.