What is hybrid working?

The phrase hybrid working is almost synonymous with the COVID-19 pandemic. Given no other choice than to work from home, companies quickly recognised how COVID had changed the world, and the idea that all work must be done in-person changed with it. As soon as the very first lockdown was announced, the future of work began to look verrrrry different.

That's why here at Basejam we've decided to put together a guide on everything you need to know about hybrid working - the benefits, the challenges, and how you can really make the most out of it. But first, the definition...

Hybrid working meaning

Hybrid working is a flexible work model which allows the employee to work from a number of locations.

Most commonly, it will involve a split between working from home and going into the office, but can also include short stints of working abroad or the ability to compress working hours into less days.

Unsuprisingly, there has been a worldwide rise of hybrid working 📈

Hybrid working gives significant autonomy to employees, so it’s no surprise that it’s proving popular.

Research undertaken by the UK Parliament shows that 80% of people who worked from home during the pandemic wanted to continue post-pandemic with a hybrid working model.

Though a physical office can be crucial for connectivity and collaboration, the flexibility and convenience of working from home has made hybrid working the perfect work life cocktail.

Do most companies have a hybrid working model?

It’s yet to be the most popular model, according to the Office of National Statistics, but it’s certainly close. As of January 2023, 56% of people are going to the office everyday, where 46% are working under a hybrid working model.

For some workers - teachers, doctors, construction workers - adapting to a hybrid working model is impossible. For others, it can unlock a whole new way of working, the flexibility it offers proving beneficial to both the company and its employees.

Hybrid working policy 📄

It’s a good idea for companies to set out a hybrid working policy so that employees understand its terms and conditions.

If the hybrid working policy dictates that employees must spend two days in the office, it’ll be much more beneficial for all involved if everyone attends on the same days to maximise the benefits of in-person work.

It’s no surprise that remote work can be isolating - but so is sitting alone in an office.

Different models of hybrid working 📊

As the name suggests, hybrid working models can exist in different forms.

Perhaps it's a fixed hybrid model, where you have specific days you are expected to go to the office, or a flexible hybrid model, meaning whether you’re at home or in the office is entirely up to you.

Hybrid working models can also either be office-first hybrid work models, or remote-first hybrid work models - where office or remote work is prioritised, with a little bit of room for the alternative.

Conclusion

Ultimately, hybrid working addresses the challenges of fully remote and in–person working. Even the definition is flexible, and statistics show it’s an immensely popular model in a post-pandemic world. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of flexibility?