How to Manage a Hybrid Business
by Arina Smith Business 13 October 2021
Covid-19 has forced many businesses to work remotely. Despite fears of how employees would handle this new change, the results have been surprising. Many companies found their productivity dramatically increased.
As pandemic restrictions ease over time, some businesses are starting to switch to a hybrid model, where employees continue to work remotely, but they come to the office building once or twice a week. But how can you manage a hybrid business model if you’re getting ready to make the switch or establish one?
Ask Employees for Input
If you wonder where you should begin as you prepare to transition into a hybrid business, start by asking your employees for input. As an employer, this may be the easiest way to understand what will work and what won’t, especially if you’ve already had some experience as a company working remotely.
Your employees can tell you their preferences, such as how often they would like to come into the office. You may decide to require employees to show up at the office once a week, either on a specified day or of their choosing. But give them the flexibility to come in on the other days if they choose.
If remote work is not something your business is yet familiar with, you may want to experiment to see how it goes and to understand what works and what doesn’t.
Designate Remote and In-Office Teams
Some positions do not permit remote work to take place. For instance, an individual may have to come into the office if their tasks require specialized equipment and tools that they don’t have access to in their home. For these individuals, you’ll likely need them to work onsite regardless of their preferences. Although, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to accommodate some of their needs or wants.
You might have downsized the amount of office space needed during the pandemic. If so, there’s the possibility that the office will not be big enough, which could mean some of your employees will have to find a spot on the floor. If that is the case, designating remote teams to come in on certain days can be helpful and prevent too many people from showing up at the office.
Leverage Technology
Technology is one of the best tools available for handling a hybrid work environment. Using software like Slack and Zoom is advantageous, if not essential. They help your teams to stay in contact with each other and provide regular updates on the progress of their projects.
We mentioned earlier that businesses trying to downsize their office space could encounter a problem when bringing their employees back to the office. There may not be enough seats to accommodate everyone, and teams will likely need a place to hold their meetings without interruption.
Desk reservation software solves this problem by enabling employees to schedule and reserve desks or rooms for meetings or other work-related activities and events. Also known as “hot desking,” this software allows companies to downsize their office space and save money. It also integrates with other tools such as Slack and Zoom and is an easy way for employees to see which seats or rooms are taken or reserved.
Trial and Error
As much as we hate to make mistakes, sometimes that’s how we learn. If something isn’t working while managing a hybrid business model, there’s nothing that says you can’t adjust or make it better. Get feedback from your employees as they may have the insights that you need. Find and try out additional tools. In the end, creating a hybrid work environment may take some time to solidify.
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