Step-by-Step Explanation of Hybrid Remote Meaning
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More chaptersIn today’s modern working landscape, buzzwords like “remote work,” “hybrid work,” or “remote hybrid work” are on the rise. According to Accenture’s research from 2021, 83% of workers worldwide thought that a hybrid work style was optimal. According to data from WFH Research, on January 23, 13% of full-time employees were remote workers, 59% worked on-site full-time, and 28% worked in a hybrid arrangement.
All in all, the pandemic has permanently shifted people’s opinions on working remotely (sometimes referred to as working from home). This working model has truly come a long way.
However, how do you get the most out of hybrid remote arrangements? What does it mean? Consider this article as a guide to help you get into the weeds of hybrid remote meaning.
What Does Hybrid Remote Mean?
Definition
Hybrid remote work combines in-office and remote working hours. This hybrid remote work allows employees to come to work in the office on certain days while working from home or other locations on others. As a result, this working arrangement creates fluid schedules. Hybrid remote work means employees work remotely on fixed days, have flexible alternatives, or carry out a combination of both.
The hybrid remote work model brings significant advantages to vulnerable populations like disabled individuals, parents of young children, and more.
Remote Work Variations
Remote work is a flexible operational arrangement where employees can work from a different location outside the office. There are several remote work variations.
Fully Remote/ Remote Only
Just as the name suggests, fully remote jobs require no office presence. All the tasks are completed entirely from whatever locations remote team members choose to work from.
Remote First
Remote first is a work arrangement that considers remote working as the primary option. An office is available, but only a few employees, if any, are required to perform their tasks at the office. The documents, policies, and workflows are created to accommodate remote work.
Remote Work Friendly
Remote work-friendly companies require their team members to complete most of their tasks in the office. Unlike fully remote or remote first models, remote work is considered a privilege rather than a default way of working. For example, employees may be allowed to work from home one or two times a day, or they are free to choose their working hours.
Hybrid Remote
The hybrid remote model is a blend of office-bound and remote work models. The hybrid work model itself is split into two structures:
- Structured Hybrid: workers with flexible work schedules are required to come into the office on a predetermined number of days each week or each month. Employees in a highly organized hybrid are told which days of the week they must report for work.
- Flexible Hybrid: employees are given the freedom to choose the days they work at the office and the days they work from home.
The type of remote and hybrid working arrangement varies from organization to organization, or even from team to team, to best cater to the needs of the company, services, and products offered.
A Brief History of Remote Work
Is remote work truly a new and revolutionary concept? You might be surprised, but the concept of flexible working hours has been experimented with decades ago.
- Flexible work models were first experimented with in Germany in the 1960s to alleviate labor shortages.
- In the U.S., they were used to address problems such as gridlock caused by the OPEC oil embargo and the Clean Air Act.
- Summer Fridays were introduced in 1988 to limit companies to a 4-day workweek during the summer months.
- AT&T pioneered an alternative workplace called AW in the late 90s to promote the benefits of working from home.
These trends have continued to the present day and especially exploded after the pandemic. As a perk for modern knowledge workers, if you are considering joining the growing remote employee workforce, Microsoft, Johnsons & Johnson, Meta, Dell Technologies, Philips, and Orient Software are some of the major names that offer a flexible working environment. All in all, remote and hybrid work models are preferred by tech companies.
Why Are Hybrid-Remote Work Models Attractive?
Work-Life Balance and More Flexibility
A survey has shown that 71% of hybrid remote employees enjoy improved work-life balance after starting their hybrid work arrangement. They can choose to spend time with their team members and take care of their children at the same time. Companies don’t need to worry about employee satisfaction and even enjoy productivity boosts.
Greater Autonomy and Trust
In hybrid work models, providing employees with greater autonomy can lead to building trust between the employee and the employer. By granting more independence, managers can avoid micromanaging every move while employees can proactively take ownership of their work. This model can be achieved by tracking objectives and key results (OKRs) to measure performance. Employees who are given more autonomy tend to deliver tasks on time and enjoy a better work-life balance, which contributes to higher job satisfaction and productivity.
Greater Productivity
As long as there is adequate technology for working remotely, companies stand to enjoy the same, if not improved, productivity. A change in environment might help with employee’s focus. The ownership, as we mentioned earlier, pushes them to take ownership and work more efficiently. A survey by the Economist indicates that 36% of workers feel well-focused when they have the option to work from home, while 28% feel aimless. Another McKinsey survey reported that 58% of workers said that hybrid work helped their productivity.
Access to a Larger Talent Pool
Working in the same physical space is valuable, but it undoubtedly holds certain limits. You’ll only be able to hire people who are willing to commute to the office or live nearby.
Building hybrid remote teams, on the other hand, buys you access to a larger talent pool. The recruitment process wouldn’t be as arduous and costly. The tech industry has been one to favor the remote work trend, and offshore outsourcing has proven to be extremely beneficial to companies and improve their bottom line. If you are interested in outsourcing a talented team that is reliable even when they are not sharing the same space with you at all times - here is a guide for you to get started.
All Remote Vs. Hybrid Remote: A Quick Comparison
All remote work arrangements and hybrid remote work arrangements are often confused with one another, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. These working arrangements have a lot in common while also holding their unique, strong points and weaknesses.
| All Remote | Hybrid Remote | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Freedom to choose where employees want to work from. | Freedom to choose where employees want to work on fixed days or during a fixed period |
| Overhead costs | Companies don’t need to pay for office spaces and the costs associated with them | Companies still need to maintain an office space, thus the overall cost might be higher |
| Ability to relocate | Yes, as needed. | Limited and might be temporary only |
| Company culture | Challenging as there is no direct interaction | Yes, there is a chance to build a strong sense of company culture |
| Collaboration | Challenging as there is no direct interaction | Direct communication has proven to produce benefits in workplace communication |
| Potential in-person confusion | None | Yes, working remotely on certain days might confuse colleagues when it comes to certain expectations or schedules. |
| Diversity | Employees might come from all over the world | Companies might stick to a certain geophraical restriction |
Best Practices for A Successful Hybrid Remote Work Arrangement
Last but not least, we would like to quickly go over what constitutes a successful hybrid work environment.
Have Workstreams
Successful hybrid working requires effective measures to create and manage a hybrid workforce. There are different types of hybrid working models, and leaders need to choose the right one for their team and business. Potential pitfalls include lack of equity, diversity of home working environments, trust issues, and digital overload. To ensure successful hybrid work, teams should look at tasks and create workstreams synchronously (where team members work together on a task) or asynchronously (team members work on individual tasks). Coordinated tasks require leadership, mentoring, assessment, and project management.
Have a Routine
If you’ve chosen a hybrid work model, it’s likely because you’re seeking a change and a new experience in your workday. However, it’s important to note that creating and maintaining routines, even when working remotely from home, a coffee shop, or any other location, can offer significant advantages. Establishing a set routine can help you start your workday smoothly and increase your efficiency.
Have a Working Corner
Having a designated workspace has proven to be extremely beneficial for concentration. Not everyone can afford a home office, or maybe you don’t feel like going out to a coffee shop on particular days. Setting up a work corner would help you get into your “work mode” faster.
Have the Right Tools
Working remotely in the age of digital transformation requires the right technology. We are not suggesting that you need the newest and shiniest technology available, but it is useful to make a list of the essential tools to help you perform work efficiently outside of the office. You should also consider how certain tools might enhance your overall productivity and comfort while working. For example, you might need a pair of noise-canceling headphones for work days at the coffee shop.
Have Clear Boundaries
Working at home might blur out the line between working hours and personal time. Working remotely indeed gives a worker time to focus more on personal tasks like family or pets, but it is also easy for work to eat up a large chunk of your personal time. Therefore, make sure you know when to turn off your “working mode” and give yourself the needed break.
Last Note
The pandemic has brought about a significant shift in the way people work, and it’s clear that remote and hybrid work models are here to stay. It’s essential to have a good understanding of what these models entail and how to navigate them effectively in the modern working landscape. Whether you’re looking for opportunities to join the hybrid remote workforce or work from anywhere, the Orient Software team is the perfect place to grow your career. With a team of experienced professionals and a commitment to nurturing a supportive and inclusive working environment, Orient Software offers a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional growth.
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