The Jury Is Out: Hybrid Work is Here To Stay

Something remarkable has changed in the attitudes of job seekers and switchers.

Instead of candidates first question relating to the compensation that a company is offering, the first question has always been “is this role hybrid or remote”??

For many candidates, this has been a deal-breaker. It seems that the majority of employers have realized this, but those who don’t heed this cry for work-life balance and flexibility may see major attrition in their workforces in the coming months.?

According to a?survey?by Wakefield Research, almost HALF of employees are likely to look for another job if their employer doesn’t offer a?flexible working model.?

Here are some reasons the hybrid model is highly preferred among candidates:?

1. Leveraging their most productive times of day. Some people are early risers, but under the 9-5 model they end up having to spend their mornings commuting or preparing for work instead of being on-the-clock.?
2. Less distractions when heads-down work is needed. Nobody needs the distractions of the office if they aren’t doing team-work. Why make them??
3. Being empowered by their autonomy to create work-life balance. According to?Slack, it’s a key reason why employees are attracted to the hybrid work model.?The freedom to run an errand mid-day without traffic, hit up the gym for an energy boost or pick up the kids from daycare without having to clear it with management is something that should be afforded to everyone. When they get this trust from their employers, employees are inspired to do better work.

What’s in it for Employers??

In the ultra-competitive tech sectors, expanding the talent pool outside your geographic limitations is a game-changer for a number of reasons.?

1. Global/National talent pools give your organization a competitive edge, help you move into new markets with broader perspectives and insights, and can be more cost effective.?
2. Less exposure to illness. This needs no further explanation given the crippling and devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even on a smaller scale, colds and flus can reduce productivity by 1-2 weeks out of the year easily.?
3. Reduced office expenses - not just for real estate. This means less coffee, water cooler refills, paper, furniture, tech, admin staff and so on.?

Steps For Implementing a Hybrid Work Model?

1. Poll your workforce to see what they need. Involving all the stakeholders will lead to a change that everyone is ready to embrace! Some topics for consideration are when they would choose to work on-site, how many days per week they want to work on-site, and if they would prefer a co-working space closer to their homes instead of head office.?
2. Create the infrastructure to support flexibility. This might include on-site video conferencing equipment and creating centralized office schedules to manage the workplace traffic of a reduced space.?
3. Don’t forget about company culture. With less face time, it’s important to have some flagship events that bring the team together and keep everyone connected. Definitely make sure that the there’s incentive to come in the office, such as an arcade, inspiring workspaces and brainstorming tools.?

It’s important that much thought and consideration is given to this new framework for work as it will be the model for years to come. This guide is a great start to cement hybrid working into your organization.?

At Rabbit Recruit, placing quality candidates with growth companies is our passion. We hope this post provided value to your organization and would love the opportunity to help scale your workforce.?

If you have questions or comments, reach out to [email protected]?