Hybrid vs Remote Work: Which Model Suit Your Business?

People may confuse hybrid and remote work for the different names of the same thing, but the truth is there is a huge difference between hybrid vs remote work. Though there are many benefits of remote work and the pros & cons of hybrid work, it is better to fully understand both concepts and choose the best fit for your workplace.

Since many organizations are moving towards change in the post-pandemic world, there is no way you should be sticking to old modes of working from the office. Businesses have realized the importance of putting employee wellness at the front as well as also understood the importance of practices like a hybrid workplace environment. Though it is still okay to wonder what is the hybrid workforce? And how does remote working work for an organization? This article will help you find the best practice for your organization between the hybrid vs remote work.

What is Hybrid Work?

A hybrid office is a combination of both a remote workplace and a conventional office. It combines in-house and remote employees in many ways. There are many types of hybrid work models, and each organization can choose the one that fits their needs.

Many hybrid workplaces take turns on different teams of employees in the office, thus taking shifts and turns; this ensures all employees get equal access to the workplace and the benefit of working remotely. On the other hand, some hybrid workplaces have fixed employees whose work’ requirements demand them to be in the office while other employees work remotely.

Pros of Hybrid Work

Increased Productivity

Hybrid remote work has been observed to be more productive for the employees due to many reasons. Employees have a great command over their working hours to choose the most energetic time of the day to work. They can also take frequent effective break times and recharge their energy levels. They also save a lot of time spent on commuting miles otherwise.

Lowered Cost

Offices that operate on hybrid remote work have limited workspaces and few workstations. They usually schedule different employees during varying shifts making the workplace easier and accessible to everyone. This allows workplaces to operate on lower square footage and also save costs.

Social Distancing

Some organizations demand that some employees be present in the physical workplace at all times.

In these situations, having fewer office workers allows you to impose tight social distance. This will help limit illnesses like the flu, the common cold, and even COVID-19.

Cons of Hybrid Work

• Some employees may feel left out in the hybrid work model.

• Coordinating with team members and managers might be tough due to distance.

• Teamwork may experience a slack due to different work hours.

• Unavailability of technology at employee’s homes may cause the work to suffer.

• Remote workers often feel undervalued in comparison to office-based employees.

What is Remote Work?

In a remote work setup, employees are asked to work remotely away from the physical office space. Many companies who follow remote work may not even have a physical office. This is good for saving space costs, and employees can connect over the internet to work seamlessly.

Pros of Remote Work

Global Talent

This is the biggest advantage of remote working. You can acquire talent from any part of the world and enjoy working. In addition, remote work eliminates geographical barriers; thus, your business is exposed to more opportunities.

Happy Employees

Employee flexibility results in employee happiness. Employees who work from home enjoy a corporate culture that allows them to work whenever and wherever they choose. In addition, they're more likely to stay with your firm for a long time if they're happy with their work!

Cons of Remote Work

• The remote work model cannot work for all jobs and industries

• Remote workers have more options; thus, there could be slack in work

• Disrupted communication because of no face to face interaction with the employees

• Payroll issues due to being located in different parts of the world

Hybrid Vs Remote Work

There are several parameters through which you can compare both models - hybrid vs remote work - in the workplace. Comparing the two models will help you find the best model that works and suits your business needs.

Work Type

• In a hybrid work model, employees are given more flexibility since they can choose to work online or in-house. The employees can book their workstations through desk booking software or any other means. This allows the employees to take advantage of office amenities if there is a different project requirement.

• In remote work, employees don't have any physical work to come in and access various office amenities. In most cases, there is no physical office.

Productivity

• Employees have the flexibility to choose their working hours and can take frequent breaks while working too. This causes an increase in productivity.

• Not every employee wants to work remotely; thus, some may find it hard to be productive from their homes. In addition, not everyone has proper facilities, which could be a limiting factor too.

Communication

• A hybrid firm must establish procedures to guarantee that all information is distributed consistently to both in-house and remote staff.

• Because all workers work remotely, the company already has a standardized mechanism to convey all information.

Team Meetings

• Hybrid work environments have both kinds of meetings that may occur virtually and in the house.

• In remote working, meetings are always carried out through video conferences or any other virtual means.

Employee Involvement

• In a hybrid work model, remote employees may feel left out because of missing out on important meetings.

• In remote work, each employee is working remotely, so none feels left out on various occasions.

Is Hybrid Work the New Normal?

Between hybrid vs remote work, hybrid work benefits make it one of the top choices as the future of the workplace, but it is also true that this model has its challenges. Thankfully there are many helpful hybrid work solutions online to help you make a smooth and easy transition. However, finding the best hybrid work model for your organization is a trial and error mechanism that might take some time to adjust.

To make your workplace follow a hybrid work model, make sure you develop a remote hybrid work policy that discusses this change in detail. In addition, educating the employees about this change and its importance is a good way to bring this transition seamlessly.