Operating from home is more prevalent than ever. In 2020, offices closed their doors, and everyone fired up their laptops and got comfortable at their dining tables (usually in their pyjamas).

But now, as lockdowns lift and people start to assemble again, will traditional office work ever be the same?

Do I Have to Go Back to the Office?

• Yes…no. Maybe? I don’t know! That’s up to you or your manager.
• The hybrid work model involves a mixture of working from home and the office.
• The specifics come down to your office, your team, your management choices.
• It’s important to note the various options for a hybrid work model; there’s no ‘one size fits all.’

1. Remote First

Popular in the first lockdown. Everyone worked remotely, as it was the safest thing to do, and it meant businesses could still run. Although many workers reported still being in favour of this model over a year later, it does have some downsides.

Collaboration is strictly online, and the social aspect of work is affected, which can be detrimental to staff’s mental well-being. With the full WFH model, annual retreats and social events are encouraged (where safe to do so) to ensure the community aspect of the office is not lost.

2. Office First, Remote Allowed

This is almost the normality we knew so well before the pandemic. Most staff in the office, apart from a few remote workers. These workers should be selected for specific reasons by management to ensure their work is not affected, and they don’t feel alienated from the rest of the team.

This can guide a disconnect between the workers at home and everyone else in the office, so cycle the remote staff wherever possible, to ensure a happy and well-functioning workforce.

3. Office occasional

The best of both worlds. A small permanent team should be established to work from the office – ideally management. The rest of the staff then split their work time between the office and remote work. This is known as a hybrid workforce model. How this decision is made is purely down to your company’s needs and your employees’ work/life balance.

While some businesses have opted for complete relaxation of any restrictions or rotas, guidelines are recommended to prevent too much of a swing one way or the other. Too many people at home – productivity may suffer. Too many people in the office – the workplace is no longer safe.

How you split your team is up to you, but here are some of the most popular models.

4. Split-week

When possible, keep teams together, divide the week up into WFH/WFO, and utilize a hybrid work schedule. Some teams won’t collaborate in person, but everyone gets a fair share of their time in the office with the leadership team.

5. Shifts

This can be off-putting to most office workers who are used to 9-5, but it has some minor advantages. Breaking the day into an early and late shift allows people to enjoy longer lie-ins one week and early finishes the next. However, it also means extending opening hours and asking your staff to juggle any childcare or other arrangements they may have.

6. Week-by-week

Split the whole team and assign them a week in the office and a week at home. It eliminates any unwanted overlap that could occur midweek with the split-week model and allows your staff to settle into a whole week of a different work environment. It also eliminates any unfairness that could arise from undesirable shifts or the uneven carving up of the week.

The hybrid work model is something that is going to be around for a while. Its advantages lie in its flexibility and almost endless scope for tweaking to fit your specific needs. And while it is essential to keep your business running smoothly and keep the numbers in the black, it’s vital that workers’ health, safety, and well-being aren’t being overlooked. So to discuss the different options with your teams and give the other models a try!