The WFH conversation has always revolved around office workers, until now.

Thanks for reading The Hustle, a newsletter that highlights the most insightful commentary on LinkedIn related to frontline workers and the issues that matter to them most. Quotes below may be edited for clarity.?

For the past year and a half, working from home (WFH) — and making remote work workable —?has been top of mind for business leaders and employees across the world, as millions were sent home in the wake of the pandemic. And it looks like these WFH arrangements may be here to stay.

On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal raised the possibility that widespread remote work could remain the norm well into 2022, as COVID-19’S Delta variant continues its spread. Companies large and small have begun to delay their office reopening plans. And executives have begun to accept that remote work isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

These days, there’s no shortage of conversation starters related to WFH culture, and those conversations almost always revolve around those with desk jobs. But the conversation has begun to broaden beyond the office.

Earlier this summer, Apple announced that it would test a hybrid work schedule for its retail employees, allowing these frontline staffers to complete some tasks from home.

Apple’s decision is just one example of how companies are maneuvering creatively amid The Great Reshuffle, a term used to describe all of the pandemic-inspired changes to the world of work.

LinkedIn News recently launched a six-part video series exploring this phenomenon, including the episode below, which highlights how one small business owner reshaped her store's operations after the pandemic forced a closure.

Click here to check out all of the episodes in the series, and read through the rest of this edition of The Hustle to see how LinkedIn members have reacted to how the #Reshuffle may affect retail workers.

Is WFH viable in retail?

Hybrid work arrangements may not make sense for all retailers, but it works for Apple. After all, a sizable portion of Apple store employee responsibilities fall under the category of tech support, which lends itself to virtual work.?

But are there other contexts in which a retailer could experiment with allowing employees to work from home? I put the question to retail workers on LinkedIn. Most acknowledged the obvious; that the vast majority of retail work requires face-to-face interaction with customers.?

“Yes, some of that face-to-face is done virtually, especially now, but stores like CD Tradepost, Best Buy, and others require that direct interaction to be able to make sure that their customers are making an informed decision and not just spending money on something they will be returning in the near future due to not fitting what the customer needed to begin with,” wrote Clenard Molder, a Florida-based cashier. “Yes, you can do certain inventory management things, and a lot of management in general can be done remotely, but the vast majority of retail cannot be done from home for a vast number of businesses around the world.”

But Courtney Delaney, a New Orleans-based store manager, proposed an idea that would introduce hybrid work to retail and solve a pain point for the industry’s workers: Not enough hours.?

“As long as I’ve worked in retail I’ve wondered why companies don’t utilize their in-store employees for the customer service help lines,” she wrote. “You can offer more hours to employees and solve retention issues so easily. I have had countless employees quit because I can’t offer them enough hours, especially in the slower months when I dont have the money to support a larger staff. But if I could offer someone two extra shifts a week where they answer a help line it would do us a lot of good.”

Mike Howard, a resume writer who focuses on helping retail professionals, added that while Apple may be the most notable company to announce a shift to hybrid retail work, other retailers have already adopted this arrangement.

“ It definitely wouldn't work for all retailers, but some who are able to offer a high level of phone/online support can make it work,” Howard wrote. “For example, I've had clients from the luxury sector (not Apple) who worked from home during lockdowns, focusing on sales and clientele development. It'll be interesting to see what continues after this pandemic is a thing of the past.”

What do you think about retail employees working hybrid schedules? Share your thoughts in the comments section of this article. And for more conversations about retail and customer service work, join The Break Room private forum on LinkedIn.