4 Useful Tips When Starting to Shift from Remote to Hybrid Work
Hybrid work, where employees split their time between working from home and the office, has been growing in popularity recently. But as more companies start to shift from remote work to a hybrid work model – many are finding that the transition isn’t as easy as it appears.
If you’re thinking about adopting a hybrid work model, here are 4 tips that can help make the shift a lot smoother:
1. Come Up with a Clear Hybrid Work Policy
First up you should create a policy that outlines what your hybrid work model will look like. That includes what days employees are supposed to work in the office, and the core hours during which they need to be available (even when working remotely). It can also include things like communication tools and protocols, office setup, and anything else that is relevant.
2. Use Employee Monitoring for Accountability
Employee monitoring tools such as Controlio can be used to promote accountability regardless of whether employees are working from home or at the office. It can track attendance, work hours and employee activity – and provide all that data in a single location that makes it convenient to check.
Aside from using monitoring tools like Controlio as employee hours trackers, it can also track productivity trends. It will measure a productivity score for each employee that you can use to compare their productivity and even evaluate how switching from remote to hybrid work has affected them.
3. Redefine the Office Workspace
To make the transition to hybrid work go smoothly, you should consider optimizing the office workspace for returning employees. For example, if employees are mainly going to be in office for meetings and collaboration then arranging shared spaces that can allow people to work together is a good idea.
Naturally the ‘ideal’ office workspace will largely depend on the needs and requirements of your business.
4. Keep an Eye on Employee Wellbeing
As with any transition, shifting from remote to hybrid work can be jarring and could affect employee wellbeing. That is why part of every effective return to office strategy should consist of paying close attention to how employees are doing, and providing them with the support they need to make the move easier.
Check in with employees regularly and talk about how the transition is going. If they show signs of stress, overworking, or becoming disengaged you should try to find out what is causing it and address their problems if possible.
Conclusion
Although transitioning to a hybrid work model can be challenging – careful planning and preparation can go a long way to making it much easier. At the end of the day your goal should be to explain your expectations clearly to employees and then slowly help them to make the shift.
Keep in mind that there’s no need to rush when shifting to hybrid work. It is far better to take your time and do it right than end up facing issues because you wanted it done quickly.
