The Hybrid Workforce: 5 Ways to Succeed
Hybrid Workforce is a term used to describe a workforce with a mix of staff that works in the office and staff that works from home.
Transitioning to a hybrid workforce model will require ongoing investment to successfully rethink how we work and communicate. Here are 5 ways to make sure you are investing wisely.
The Hybrid Workforce: 5 Ways to Succeed
Transitioning to a hybrid workforce model will require ongoing investment to successfully rethink how we work and communicate. Here are 5 ways to make sure you are investing wisely.
82% of Organizations Moving to Hyrbid Workforce
This stat, according to Gartner, means we’re seeing a shift in most of the workforce to splitting time between home and a main office.
But this transition won’t come easy. It will require ongoing investment from senior management to rethink how we work and communicate, without sacrificing the company culture and employee collaboration that that hybrid workforces require to be successful.
1. Reskill Hybrid Employees for the Future of Work
In today’s new working world, unity and accountability are the keys to successful and productive teams, despite geographical location. This is where new technology and collaboration tools come in, helping in-person and remote employees stay connected. However, adapting and getting used to these technologies is no easy task. 87% of executives report they are already experiencing skill gaps in the workforce.
The COVID19 pandemic has further highlighted–and even accelerated–the need to reskill employees to meet the demands of today’s new working world. As we look ahead, it is up to leadership to prioritize reskilling efforts, and to help hybrid employees adopt the technologies needed to drive enhanced productivity. This includes company-wide training sessions, town halls, and even individual training courses on specific tools. While it may take some extra time in the beginning, the long-term benefits will quickly be felt across the entire organization.
2. Understand the Skills That Make for the Best Hybrid Employee
While nearly 30 million Americans are currently unemployed, many companies are still hiring or will be looking to hire in the near future, filling roles that have become vital during the pandemic. Case in point: Kroger has hired more than 100,000 workers since mid-March and will be filling approximately 7,000 more positions to keep up with consumer demand.
As job roles and responsibilities change, it is up to recruiting and hiring managers to keep a close pulse on the traits that will best determine long-term hybrid success. For example, while hard skills like coding, engineering and data analysis were once seen as the core determinant of a candidate’s performance, today skills like collaboration, resilience and agility will be equally, if not more important.
Ultimately, remote working and hybrid models are uncharted territory for many organizations and individuals, and there will always be a learning curve for these new situations and roles. However, employees who can adapt and quickly pivot towards the demands of a hybrid workforce will come out on top.
3. Make Corporate Culture a Top Priority
Workplace culture is a significant factor in talent acquisition and employee retention. 30% of employees stated concerns around the losing corporate culture (casual conversations in the cafeteria, hallways, cubicles) they have become accustomed to. Now is the time for companies to invest in their employees’ well-being and establish wellness as a requirement, not a perk.
During a time when the boundaries between personal and professional life are blurred, senior leadership must double down on policies that drive long-lasting positive impact. This includes regular employee-manager check-ins, recognizing employees for their hard work, and promoting paid time off.
COVID-19 has catapulted companies into a remote workforce practically overnight, and while some have seen this time as a growth opportunity, others are falling behind. Those companies that can best adapt to the current circumstances and prepare a strong proactive strategy for their employees will future-proof themselves against the competition.
4. Ensure That Your Conference Room Technology Supports Work From Home Staff
Traditionally, we have always thought about the conference room as a place to collaborate with staff and partners on a big screen with virtual communication as a secondary focus.
Given the transition of work from home employees to platforms such as Teams and Zoom, we must shift our priorities with the conference room technology to work seamlessly with those platforms.
5. Develop Standards for Work From Home Technology
We mentioned above that your conference room technology should be refreshed to allow for better virtual collaboration with employees working from home.
Likewise, there should be a technology standard for those remote employees. It makes little sense to invest in technology at the office only to use it to communicate with employees using subpar audio visual equipment.
The shift to hybrid workforces have forced a shift in how we invest in AV. We must see the quality of AV equipment in the home office as equally important as the quality of the AV equipment in the conference room.
