The Benefits of Hybrid Working: Finding the Perfect Work-Life Balance

Working from 9 to 5 in grey business districts and subsisting on sandwiches and bad coffee is a thing of the past for many companies and employees. Since the end of the pandemic, they have been forced to adapt to new business models, including hybrid work. It is supposedly intended to increase the satisfaction of workers who Work-life balance improve and have a positive impact on productivity. The benefits of hybrid working seem obvious, but is everything really so sunny and bright in the new way companies think?

In this article, we'll discuss both sides of the hybrid working coin to better understand what it means for you and your business.

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What is a hybrid form of work?

This type of setup is best described as a flexible work model that combines traditional 8-hour office work with Home office or combined with another type of remote environment. In contrast to teleworking, which allows workers to work completely independently of where they work, the hybrid model occasionally requires them to return to work, attend meetings and complete their tasks.

For example, it is possible to stay at home on Mondays and Fridays and then come to the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. One of the main benefits of this concept is that employees can set their own schedule, which reduces stress and improves the quality of life.

Hybrid work in figures

For some companies, the benefits of hybrid working are nothing new, but it's no secret that this trend has become mainstream in recent years. Here are a few figures that might surprise you:

• American technology research firm Gartner claims that 49% of the total workforce in Germany work remotely and hybrid;
• One YouGov survey revealed that workers in western and northern Germany are more open to hybrid forms of work;
• The same study claims that highly skilled workers are more susceptible to hybrid forms of work;
• Addeco found that 50% of Swiss people are already taking advantage of the benefits of hybrid working;
• A study by the University of St. Gallen shows that 62% of all Swiss people would prefer a hybrid working model over the traditional one;
• 35% of employees in Austrian companies want to take advantage of the benefits of hybrid working more than before;
• 13% of Austrians are ready to resign if their company asks them to return to the office in the traditional 5-day format;
• Certain German industries are less inclined to adapt to the hybrid model, particularly the printing industry with 48.4% and automotive manufacturers with 43.2%.
  

Benefits of hybrid working for workers

What exactly are the benefits of hybrid working for those who had to eat lunch at a desk just a few years ago? Extensive studies have already been carried out on how workers see the benefits of hybrid working, and here are the key points we've singled out:

• The benefits of hybrid working start with the flexibility to find the work environment that suits employees;
• Both personal well-being and labor productivity are increased by hybrid working;
• 67% of employees say that their time management is more efficient;
• 58% of participants report less fatigue and burnout;
• 22% think coordination is much easier than meeting in person.
  

Challenges of hybrid working for individuals

In addition to the benefits of hybrid working, there will always be some obstacles along the way. Therefore, here are the main challenges that individuals are currently facing:
1. lack of efficient working tools;
2nd Weaker commitment to the company, its culture and other colleagues;
3. Frequent interruptions.
It should be noted that the hybrid model is new for the vast majority of companies, particularly in more conservative industries such as the financial and consulting sector. It can be assumed that many of these problems are nothing more than growing pains. With the help of a effective software such as Flexopus Managing flexible working hours can be more efficient and easier than ever

Benefits of hybrid work for employers

The benefits for workers may be obvious, but you might be wondering what that means for companies. It's no secret that many companies prefer to have complete control, and hybrid working seems to offer them just the opposite. However, it has been shown that companies can benefit from combining teleworking and standard business models in the following ways:

• Lower office costs;
• Lower hiring costs;
• More free income;
• It is easier for companies to adopt green and sustainable business practices;
• Workers will be less likely to ask for a raise because working remotely reduces commuting costs.

Disadvantages of hybrid work for companies

Despite all the advantages of hybrid forms of work, there is also some drawbacksthat companies should consider:

• For industries and projects that require a high level of daily coordination effort, hybrid work can be more challenging;
• Interdependent companies may lose more time than they gain;
• The fear of losing productivity can lead to additional stress.

Most academic research on the benefits of hybrid working focuses on companies where interdependence between different teams and individuals is less pronounced. We hope that future research will highlight the differences between different types of companies and the internal structures they use to provide a deeper understanding of this progressive work environment.

Hybrid working with Flexopus — the desk sharing software

With Flexopus Can you sit back and relax and coordinate and Management of jobs, leave meeting rooms and parking spaces to the software. With the latest technical features, many options for connecting and integrating, for example, Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace and Outlook calendar integration, Flexopus is taking hybrid working to a new level.

See for yourself about how the price-performance champion is transforming their everyday office life and offering both employees and managers a simple and seamless user experience. With Flexopus, everyday work and hybrid work are done in no time at all.

How to drive the hybrid work model

Even the best research is nothing more than data analysis, which is often susceptible to different interpretations in order to do justice to the theory. Instead of focusing on numbers, companies must make the necessary changes today to stay ahead of the curve. After learning the benefits of hybrid working, employees are reluctant to return to their cubicles, so management must try to optimize that experience.

An understanding of current levels of awareness, perspectives and needs on the one hand, and business goals, risks, and challenges on the other hand, can provide valuable insights and help develop sustainable strategies that are geared towards hybrid work.