There is no doubt that the continuing pandemic has forever shifted how employers strategize and how employees value work life balance. Employers were forced to quickly determine ways for their employees to work effectively from home and employees had to completely change their daily work routines.
We learned how nice it is to cut out our commutes, that you can work in your pajamas, take a 15-minute break to walk our dogs, throw dinner in the CrockPot while someone is running late for a meeting, how to be your kid’s teacher, and many other ways of balancing work from home. Some of us found that we were more productive while working from home without the distractions of water cooler chats or the usual commotion involved in a busy office. Some learned how much they value their work friends and miss the social aspect of office life. Some of us even learned that working from home is not for us and that we need an office structure to survive.
Given all the changes, both good and bad, and how we have all adjusted, it is important for employers to strategize flexible ways of getting their people back to the office. There are many elements to consider when considering a hybrid work model including the benefits, the negatives, the legal stuff, and having a competitive advantage.
Hybrid work
In a nutshell, hybrid work means flexible work. There are many variations of what hybrid work can look like. Employees can determine how and when they work best and schedule their work hours around what works best for them. This could mean working early in the morning while the kids are still in bed, stopping for a few hours to get them ready for school and out the door, and then back to work during the school day. Or, it could mean working remotely 3 days a week and being in office for two days. The possibilities are endless and the only thing stopping you is your imagination.
The Benefits of Hybrid Work
Hybrid work has many benefits, including but not limited to:
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Reduces the risk of exposure to COVID-19
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Better workplace balance
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Gives your company a competitive advantage to better attract top talent
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Hiring can be done across Canada
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Employees may be more productive
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Lower overhead costs
The Challenges of Hybrid Work
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If not executed properly, hybrid work can lead to burnout
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Readjusting to this new schedule can lead to fatigue as employees and employers navigate what works for each employee.
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Employees may feel like they are constantly online. While trying to balance their tasks and work and tasks at home, they may feel like they are constantly being pulled in two different directions all the time.
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Working from home sometimes blurs the lines between work time and home time. Employees may find themselves checking emails or doing small work tasks when they should be enjoying their own time.
The Legal Stuff
We won’t bore you with all the legal jargon, but there are some things to consider that you may not have thought of.
From an HR perspective, it is important to think about how a hybrid model may impact your health and safety requirements. Depending on the number of staff you have in your office at a given time and the type of field you are in, you need to consider if you need to have a health and safety representative present when one is required. You also need to consider how your working alone requirements need to be adjusted. Will there ever be a day where only one employee is in the office and all others opted to work from home that day?
Taxes and statutory holidays are also another fun topic when considering the legal side of work from home. If you have a staff member who decides to move to another province (or even country!), you will have to investigate the tax and vacation implications.
Competitive advantage
Lastly, by being such a flexible employer, you could gain a competitive advantage over companies who do not provide options to their employees. This can help you attract and retain top talent as employees will be able to build their work around the busy schedule that is their life. In today’s climate, flexible work is becoming a norm amongst office work, and you need to ensure that you are keeping up with the times.
Interested in changing up your office structure and not sure where to start? CulturedHR is your one stop shop for all things Human Resources. Follow us on social media for more tips from HR professionals.
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