The many benefits of hybrid work

What is hybrid work?

The hybrid work model involves splitting your days between working in the office and working at home (remote work). This can be a structured arrangement, with a set number of days at the office and at home, or employees may be offered a more flexible work model.

The right balance between in-office days and remote work days can help employees meet their personal needs as well as the needs of their teams and organizations. Being able to choose where to work based their role and the tasks they have to do is a considerable asset.

The advantages of in-office work

In work organizations, as anywhere, success is often a question of balance. In-office work meets certain needs as part of this balance.

1. Socializing and making connections

Presence at the office can highlight a different kind of productivity and create strong, intangible results. Each moment we have an opportunity to be in contact with others, whether formal or informal, planned or unplanned, fulfills a fundamental psychological need: social belonging.Whether it’s a smile from a coworker in the hallway, the opportunity to learn from someone with more experience, the famous water cooler conversations, or even the chance to get to know new team members, all of these are invaluable experiences.

Human relationships play an essential role in employee mental health. They allow us to create stronger connections and develop better team synergy.

2. Concrete objectives

In addition to mobilizing employees and inspiring and strengthening the team, presence at the office is also important for achieving certain concrete objectives, like launching a new project, solving complex problems or onboarding new team members.

In short, time spent in the office can often be extremely useful, especially if you plan your activities accordingly, whenever possible.

The benefits of working at home

On the other hand, working on certain professional tasks from home allows for a more flexible schedule and contributes to employee efficiency, among other benefits.

1. Work-life balance

Remote work allows employees to balance the demands of their personal and professional lives. This work arrangement makes it easier for employees to manage their daily schedules, taking into consideration their work activities and their personal needs as well as the needs of teams and the organization. Working remotely allows you to balance your time and makes it easier to plan out your day! This freedom and flexibility strengthen trust, motivation and satisfaction every day, which is particularly important when you think of all the hours spent at work over the course of a lifetime!

2. Save time and increase productivity

Some tasks are actually easier to do at home, especially when employees have a home office environment that promotes wellbeing and performance. A calm working environment leads to fewer distractions and better focus and can reduce work stress and enhance creativity.

Also, working remotely allows employees to save time on their commute, allowing them to use that time for their personal needs and wellbeing. On a snow day, for example, employees who have the flexibility to do so can still complete their work tasks at home. That’s a win-win situation for employees and employers! You can also take advantage of the extra time in your day to do something you enjoy and that’s good for your wellbeing, like watching a show together, going for a walk, reading while drinking your coffee or going to a yoga or spin class!

You’ll not only save time on your commute, but you can save on your daily expenses as well. With fewer trips to the office to make, some may even be able to choose to buy a bike instead of a second car. When you save money on your commute, you can choose to put that money towards a savings goal, using an RRSP, a TFSA or another savings plan, which is another way to benefit your wellbeing.

In short, hybrid work offers a huge advantage for employees and employers alike: happiness at work. The work-life balance this working arrangement provides contributes to each employee’s physical and mental wellbeing, improves productivity and loyalty and helps attract new talent! In the context of a labour shortage, the benefits offered by employers are very important to job-seekers. Whether it’s structured or unstructured, hybrid work reinforces responsibility, trust, motivation, performance and job satisfaction every day!