Hybrid Training: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Over the last few decades, we have seen dramatic changes in how our working time is structured. Learn the benefits of hybrid working and how to adopt a hybrid work model.
Over the last few decades, we have seen dramatic changes in how our working time is structured. From the traditional 5-day, 9 to 5 schedules, how we work and even where we work have evolved to suit both employees and consumers’ modern demands. Terms such as flexi-time, ad hoc working, career breaks, and family-friendly have become more commonly used. More and more workers are looking to find the perfect work-life balance, and through implementing hybrid training, employers have helped them to achieve that.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made hybrid working all the more common either out of necessity due to the need for social distancing in offices or as a result of employers coming to appreciate the benefits of allowing their staff to do much of their work from home.
A wide range of research, including a YouGov survey, indicates that after the pandemic the majority of workers want to continue to work from home at least some of the time, presenting new opportunities for organisations to establish new ways of working.
For many employees, hybrid working feels like a natural evolution of flexible working, where once they could agree on hours that work for them, hybrid working gives them the power to choose their ideal work environment too.
In a hybrid work model, employees have more flexibility to get work done when they are most productive. For example, some people work best early in the morning while others do better in the evening. They can also choose to work with teammates on-site or do heads-down work from a remote location.
Benefits of hybrid working
Despite the many complexities and challenges of living and working through the global pandemic, employees have still identified many benefits from working from home, for both them and their organisation. These benefits include a better work-life balance, greater ability to focus with fewer distractions, more time for family and friends, saved commuting time and costs, IT upskilling and higher levels of motivation.
Other benefits of flexible working include savings on office space, higher levels of employee job satisfaction and reduced absence rates.
How to adopt a hybrid work model
To adopt a hybrid work model, you need the right people, processes, and technology. Here are a few things you should consider when moving to a hybrid work model.
Find out what employees want
Before you even begin to think about whether hybrid working would work for your company, it is important to ask whether your staff actually want it.
Build the infrastructure that will support flexible work
To build a hybrid model that works for your company, speak with your workforce to understand their needs. By involving employees, you can create a working model that keeps employees motivated to do their best work.
Invest in company culture
Keep your team talking and your company culture strong by scheduling regular meet-ups, both online and off, together with social activities for your staff to take part in.
Create a hybrid working policy
Document precisely how the hybrid working scheme will work, and what is and is not required of your employees when working in hybrid roles.
Hold meetings online by default
It is easy for members of your team to start to feel disadvantaged or be left out of key decisions if they alone are not coming into the office.
Provide mental health training and support
When staff work from home, it becomes harder and harder to spot when they are struggling with stress, anxiety, or suffering from burnout.
Gather continuous feedback
As you work toward building a hybrid work environment that is ideal for your company, remember to gather employee feedback. Collecting this feedback will help you assess progress and build a hybrid workplace that thrives.
The hybrid model used to be seen as an alternative style of work. But as more employees demand flexibility, hybrid working will become even more common. Companies must meet the needs of their workforce or risk losing talent to employers that do.
Start your hybrid training today
If you have any questions about hybrid working, feel free to get in touch with us today. We are more than happy to explain these strategies in greater detail.