Hybrid Working: Will it stick? The pros and cons of a changing work environment

The need for hybrid working developed from the requirement to work from home during the national pandemic and has often been labelled as a method that harnesses the best of both worlds. But is this trend set to stay?

Whilst hybridity in the workplace has its pros and cons, it seems to be an attractive factor when looking for a job. The popular job search website, Indeed, even has a filter where individuals can choose to only view remote or hybrid roles.

But the debate still remains as to whether hybrid working is as positive as it seems. Is it boosting or deteriorating employee productivity? Has it served to support those suffering with mental health issues? Is it the future for working environments, or will it be phased out with time?

Of course, the biggest advantage of hybrid working is flexibility. Flexibility is an increasingly prominent buzzword in the world of HR. And there’s no doubt that employees enjoy the flexibility, being able to structure their workday according to their individual needs and preferences whether it be childcare struggles or battles with mental health issues like anxiety disorder. There has also undoubtedly been a vast increase in employees’ work-life balance since the pandemic. But, many individuals actually struggle to define the line between these two aspects of their daily routine when their work environment is the same as their home! It can also be super beneficial for those who have certain requirements and accessibility needs, opening up a world of new opportunities as they are able to earn money as they work remotely.?

Another key advantage of workplace hybridity is cost saving. And this goes for both the employers and employees. Whilst employees can save money on their commute, uniform, and food, employers save on expenses that may come with individuals working in the offices. Of course, reducing employees’ commute time goes hand in hand with reducing their carbon footprint too!

At LCG, we have also found the increase in hybrid working to be excellent for our ambitious growth plans. We have staff posted all over the country and so this has not only helped our vast geographical spread increase, but also our presence across the UK in general which has proven fantastic for brand exposure and awareness.?

However, there are a list of cons that come with hybrid working too. Working remotely can eliminate the team-building and collaborative nature of working in close proximity to others, especially those who are new to a team. This can be detrimental to a company’s culture too – at LCG we pride ourselves on collaboration, innovation and our close-knit community culture that we have built up, and we understand that hybrid and remote working can hugely impact the shared vision and passion that we have always known and loved here.

There is also the risk of deteriorating the mental health of employees as they can often feel isolated. Whilst we appreciate some members of our workforce may prefer to work remotely because of this very reason, we are always mindful of those who need physical interaction and teamwork to have a happy and healthy well-being. We provide all of our employees the opportunity to work from an office should they wish to, and that’s how we believe it should be! It’s all about creating a safe space, alongside an open, welcoming, and inclusive culture that employees can turn to.

Another disadvantage of hybrid working is the potential for a divide between office-based and remote workers, which can be perceived as a stimulant for unequal opportunities for career advancement or engagement. We strive to engage our staff all across the country, holding monthly live streams where we are able to celebrate the business’ success together, virtually or not. We also ensure everybody is given equal access to resources and opportunities, regardless of their location, and we work hard to maintain this tight-knit culture that we have created.?

Of course, a main turn-off for employers when considering hybrid or remote working is its impact on the communication and productivity of workers and teams. LCG overcome this by using a communication channel, much like social media, to consistently ensure employee engagement. Work expectations are also clearly defined and monthly 1-2-1s are held with line managers to combat a deterioration in productivity too. Like many workplaces, at LCG, we outline that occasional face-to-face interaction and travelling to our Head Office is an expectation of all staff.?

Hybrid working brings with it both pros and cons. It can improve work-life balance (and equally challenge it), save costs, which is more important now than ever before as we face the cost-of-living crisis, and provides flexibility for both employers and employees! But it needs to be closely monitored for numerous reasons; it requires consistent and clear communication between absolutely everybody in the workforce; collaboration and engagement should be heavily encouraged and invested in; and employee well-being should be a key priority if a workplace is to adopt this fairly new way of working.