THE FUTURE OF WORK
In the wake of the digital transformation, remote work has become the norm for many employees around the world. However, many feel that hybrid work clashes with the establishment of a good company culture. Currently, there is much discussion amongst CEOs, HR and managers in Greece about the full-time return to the office. This begs the question: is hybrid work a ‘trend’ or is will hybrid work last?
Hybrid work, which combines in-person and remote work, has been touted as the future of work. It offers the flexibility and autonomy of remote work while also providing the social interaction and collaboration of in-person work. But will it continue to be a popular work model?
At STIRIXIS Group, we believe that designing workplaces for the future of work is key to the success of any organization. This is why we take into account such questions, as well as the unique needs and preferences of employees. Through this methodology, we can help companies create spaces that foster productivity, collaboration, and innovation.
One factor that may determine the longevity of hybrid work is employee preference. We are currently amidst the biggest generational shift at work, as a large number of talented Millenials and Gen Zs are joining the workforce at unprecedented rates. These talented individuals have grown up not knowing a world where technology didn’t exist, and they demand for things to be done differently. Work-Life Balance, Flexibility and Comfort are the three preferences of this generation. And this is why they are hesitant to give that up in favour of a traditional office-based work model. However, we understand your concerns. How do you create a company culture if your employees want to work remotely?
Designing a workplace that attracts your employees and makes them want to come in is key to creating an effective hybrid work strategy. Explore how our project with RAFARM achieved this by clicking here.
"These talented individuals have grown up not knowing a world where technology didn't exist, and they demand for things to be done differently."
Another factor is productivity. Generally speaking, the global work from home experiment that was called ‘Covid’ showed significant increases in the productivity of workers. However, with increased levels of burn-out and exhaustion. Studies to assess the productivity of hybrid work and wether it truly offers the best of both worlds, allowing for productivity and wellbeing to exist, have been carried out. The verdict is out: remote workers are more productive, but in-person collaboration is necessary for certain types of work. This has motivated CEOs and Managers to adopt a hybrid work model. However, the effectiveness of hybrid work and the sustainability of increased productivity will greatly depend on the clear differentiation between the type of work that is done at home and the type of work that can be done at the office. To achieve productivity in hybrid work, your workplace design needs to promote collaboration between different teams, brain storming, and enable focused meetings to occur. Thus, the role of the workplace is likely to transform to a social and meeting zone with the adoption of hybrid work.
Hybrid work has transformed the role of the workplace: from a work to a social zone.
Another consideration is the cost savings associated with remote work. As companies with large headquarters that were able to house 100 + employees moved to remote work during covid-19, without negative impacts on the productivity of their teams, they experienced a new world full of opportunities for real-estate cost saving. By downsizing your offices to only include areas truly needed in hybrid work (i.e. meeting rooms, social areas, fewer workstations and individual meeting booths).
Our team can help you design a workspace that balances the benefits of remote work with the advantages of in-person collaboration, maximizing cost savings while maintaining the benefits of face-to-face interactions.
With all these advantages, the question is not whether or not hybrid work will last. But how long will it take for hybrid work to be the new norm and how can companies truly take advantage of all the amazing benefits that it has to offer. If you’re still thinking whether or not making this move will be beneficial for your company, arrange a free consultation call with us where we can talk about your sector, the kind of work that your employees need to be done and let’s design together a workplace strategy that will lead you to True Prosperity.
