At this
point, there are companies that are investing heavily in hybrid, while others
are putting a stop to fully remote work. Since there is no one-size-fits-all
formula, it should not be surprising that some organizations have been more
successful than others in managing their dynamic workforce and creating
workplaces that drive productivity and foster innovation.
Based on
more than 20,000 individual responses, employees are spending an average of 3.1
days in the office, which is broadly in line with their preferences. But, in
order to make hybrid work efficient, reconciling employer expectations with
employee needs is one of the most pressing challenges that companies face today.
Based on the
international consulting firm’s research results, there are three things that the
most successful hybrid adopters do better than the rest:
Firstly, leading
companies understand how physical space and employee expectations impact
performance and productivity.
Identifying
the new levers of performance will enable companies to better support their
dynamic workforce. It’s important to acknowledge that office spaces should not
just be social hubs, but places that can support focused work and privacy.
Thereof,
marks JLL, it is important to balance collective and individual needs, bringing
together technology and design to improve the mix of collaboration spaces with
spaces dedicated to privacy and concentration.
Balancing
office usage is the second component to successful hybrid working arrangements.
Given that companies mostly do not impose fixed office days, patterns of peak
attendance are emerging, with most people preferring to work in the office on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Thus, leading companies monitor their
employees’ working habits and empower managers to orchestrate their teams
efficiently.
Companies
can achieve more balanced office usage and boost organizational performance by clarifying
house rules around flexibility and empowering managers to orchestrate hybrid. This
will help minimize workforce frustration and help to maintain the work-life
balance employees have come to expect.
Finally, redesigning
a company’s office space, in order to accommodate its evolving needs is one
more thing that can ensure better results, when it comes to hybrid working.
Since employers face competing demands to cut costs and encourage office
attendance, shared spaces are seen as the best solution.
However,
most people spend over 50% of their time in the office on focused work and
companies must take this into account when redesigning office space. The most
successful hybrid adopters leverage data and design adaptable spaces that
reconcile flexibility, sustainability and comfort.
Offices must
support focused work and privacy, as well as teamwork and collaboration. To
that end, decision makers are encouraged to monitor and measure office
utilization, to inform their strategy and create an optimal work experience
Hybrid is a
work in progress. And this is why, according to JLL, continuously assessing
employee satisfaction and measuring the impact of the changes introduced is key
to success. Identifying opportunities for improvement and creating an agile
environment to support the evolving needs of each organization is what will
help each company achieve the best combination of traditional and evolving work
arrangements.
Source: Is
hybrid really working?, JLL
