Is hybrid work the future of work? Yes, it is.

The past couple of years have changed the way almost all of us work. Whether you’re an office worker, owner of an eatery or involved in arts and entertainment, the ongoing pandemic has highlighted just how viable – or not – working from home in the long term can be.

While times have been especially tough for those who own businesses that require gatherings of people, office workers and digital nomads have experienced something completely different. 

As the world continues to slowly return to normal, the post pandemic workplace is likely to shift towards hybrid working. So, what is that exactly and how can both companies and employees adjust and prosper within a new working world.

What is hybrid work

The idea of balancing time between remote working and being in the office is far from new, but its prevalence has undoubtedly increased because of the ongoing pandemic and the rise of home office. 

There are a number of benefits with hybrid working for both employers and employees, but there are also some potential downsides too – which can be avoided if the scheme is mindfully implemented. Before we get to those, let’s look at the good stuff!

Why working from home and the office wins

Hybrid working has a whole bunch of benefits for both employers and employees who embrace the culture and do their part to make it work.

Recruitment – Offering hybrid working improves your corporate image, clearly showing that you have a flexible culture built on trust.

Morale – Hybrid work helps employees feel happier, healthier, more productive, less stressed and more in control of their lives.

Overheads – With fewer people in the office at once, less space will be taken up and normal utilities will cost less as well. 

Environment – Adopting a hybrid working practice means you can spend more time on an office fit-out and refurbishments to transform the office into a more creative, free and flexible space that encourages collaboration.

How to go about it

As we mentioned above, hybrid working has a lot going for it – but, you’ll need to keep the following points in mind to make it a success.

Making it fair and inclusive – Will everyone have the same balance of hybrid working? Otherwise, cliques may form, leaving some workers feeling left out or not part of the team.

Collaboration – We are all probably used to video calls, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the best option. It’ll be easy to just continue in this way, but make sure that you encourage on-site collaboration and teamwork where possible.

Lead from the top – Office managers, HR heads and even owners will need to make sure that they continue to foster a coherent team as much as possible. This means that they support both home and office workers in the same way.

Make it easy for them – Ensure that your team has the best experience when working from home and the support (financial, technological, manager access) they need to work well remotely.

Nurture new and junior employees – Throughout the pandemic, many workers have joined new companies and are unlikely to have even met their team in person. Do what you can to integrate them and encourage team events safely.

ESCREO can bridge the gap

With hybrid working becoming the norm, it’s never been a better time for a new office fit and refurbishment to create an effective and collaborative post pandemic workplace. And ESCREO whiteboard paint is a great way to do it. 

Most businesses love the idea of writable walls but often think they are a real hassle to install: but that’s not true. ESCREO paint is super-affordable, easy to apply, and a breeze to clean. As long as you’ve got a wall, you’re already halfway there.

You can choose from the classic whiteboard paint, or if you prefer to keep the original colour underneath, go ahead and use our clear writable paint instead. And, if you’re a fan of magnets, you can even use our magnetic option. Whatever works for you, we have it.

Now that companies and workers are embracing the change, the possibilities for better collaboration despite it all are very promising. Hybrid working is the future, and we’re all for it!