Flexibility is becoming a crucial selling point for organizations searching for great talent to fortify their workforce. A recent study by Gallup reveals 9 out of 10 employees prefer some degree of long-term remote flexibility offered by the hybrid work model. Hybrid workplaces empower employees to seamlessly switch between time in the office and working remotely. However, while this is beneficial, it also leads to new challenges. For instance, there have been widespread concerns regarding diminishing productivity for remote workers, scheduling challenges for hybrid teams, lack of employee collaboration, and feelings of disconnection from their company and colleagues.
This blog shares tips to optimize your hybrid office work policy to address some of these challenges.
Encourage the use of coworking spaces
A study by Stanford University reveals 51% of the remote workforce work from their bedrooms, kitchens, or other communal areas, which often feature high levels of distractions. Such undesignated places make it difficult to separate work from nonwork life and focus on given tasks, ultimately impacting productivity. By incorporating coworking space solutions like those offered by Quest Workspaces, your remote team will have access to a dedicated private office and workspaces that maintains their flexibility while allowing them to get the workday done quickly and easily. The following are a few ways coworking spaces help alleviate the challenges of a hybrid workplace:
- Increased productivity: Coworking spaces are optimized for productivity. They are designed to adapt to different work styles by providing diverse settings and various desks and meeting rooms tailored to suit each member's needs. They also offer unmatched levels of personal connections that engage and motivate your employees to work and feel less lonely. Happier employees generally translate to higher productivity.
- Networking and collaboration: A major difference between working from a home office and a shared office is the network and collaboration opportunities that a coworking space offers. These collaborative spaces allow your team to work alongside different people and organizations daily. The ability to mingle and share ideas with fellow workers creates meaningful connections that benefit the company.
- Work-life balance: Work-life balance is crucial to the mental health of your employees. Without a separate space between home and work office, everything becomes a blur since there is no structure for personal and professional responsibilities. A coworking space provides this structure since it clearly distinguishes between the home and work environment.
- Enhances company culture: Coworking spaces can positively impact company culture. It allows employees to come together and engage in team-building activities and company-wide meetings. Through these meetings, they trade information with each other and create relationships with mutual benefits.
Make an office a social and wellness hub
Having transitioned your employees back to the office on a hybrid work model, take steps to reimagine the purpose of your office to make it something employees look forward to, whether they are coming in once or several times a week. Since employees can get much of their work done at home, your office should offer something different. It should be a place that allows them to learn, socialize and build relationships. Socialization is a huge benefit of coming into the office, and offering consistent, unique social opportunities help fulfill the connectivity needs employees miss whenever they work from home. You should also ensure employees who come into the office get chances to improve their well-being through elevated work experience. Some of the tips to transform the office into a social and wellness hub include:
- Bring nature indoors by placing potted trees
- Provide unique wellness spaces such as outdoor areas, treadmill desks, and exercise classes.
- Update your furniture with highly ergonomic desks, tables, and workstations. You can also refresh your gathering zones with custom stools and banquettes.
- Create unique and welcoming gathering spaces.
- Organize social events such as Happy Hours.
Schedule for hybrid workers at a team level
Studies reveal 88% of hybrid workers prefer a minimum of three days on-site. It is advisable to set work schedules at the team level rather than instituting more general requirements. Collaborate with your team when specifying the number of days of the week employees must work on site and the minimum number of days each week or month. Employees are generally more engaged when teams collaboratively create hybrid schedules and policies.
Leverage Quest Workspace solutions to optimize your hybrid office work policy
Coworking spaces are a great way to bridge the gap between working from home and in an office. They allow employees to maximize the benefits of a professional working environment without losing the flexibility remote work offers. Quest workspaces offer tailor-made coworking spaces that suit the needs of your employees. Our workspaces feature great amenities such as meeting rooms, printing facilities, and social areas designed to foster communication and boost company culture. Contact us today to schedule a consultation near you.
