Hybrid Work Equivalent to 8% Pay Rise, Boosts Productivity: Study
To keep adapting, but we believe this is a model that will serve our employees and our organization well,” Riley says.
Hybrid work, which combines remote and in-office work, is gaining traction despite its inherent complexities. The reason behind this trend is simple: the benefits of hybrid work far outweigh the challenges it presents. According to a study by Stanford economist Nick Bloom, employees value the flexibility of hybrid work as much as an 8% salary increase. The reasons for this preference include opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and a better work-life balance.
Companies also reap the benefits of hybrid work, with lower attrition rates and increased productivity compared to fully remote or fully in-office setups. However, navigating the intricacies of hybrid work is not without its challenges. For instance, determining how often employees should be on-site, enforcing these policies, and managing the division of tasks between home and office are some of the issues that need to be addressed.
Jadine Riley, executive director of workforce strategy at Providence, a national not-for-profit healthcare system, acknowledges these complexities. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution in this world of hybrid work, especially for an industry like ours that has a diverse workforce,” she says. “For some employees, virtual work isn’t feasible, while for others, it’s highly beneficial. It’s crucial to provide clear guidelines about our flexible work model so that everyone understands the rationale behind our hybrid approach.”
To effectively navigate the complexities of hybrid work, organizations need to communicate clear guidelines about when and why employees need to be in the office. This clarity is particularly important for large organizations like Providence, where the ability to work remotely varies among teams and discretion is often left to team managers.
In this new era of remote and hybrid work, measuring productivity requires a shift in perspective. The traditional indicators of productivity, such as hours worked or visible online presence, are no longer relevant. Instead, leaders need to set actionable benchmarks for employees and measure success based on outcomes.
The Adobe 2023 State of Work Report emphasizes the need for “aligned agility” – providing maximum flexibility around the ‘how’ of work, with tight consensus on the ‘what’ and ‘why’. “Employees need to be empowered to determine the ways they work best and to shape how they deliver against their goals.”
Making office time valuable is another crucial aspect of hybrid work. Employees should not be commuting to an office only to spend their day on Zoom calls. Instead, office days should be designed for relationship-building, collaboration, and other aspects of work that are difficult to replicate virtually.
The office design should also reflect how the space is used in a hybrid world. If deep-thinking tasks are reserved for remote days and office days are primarily for socializing and collaboration, traditional office layouts with cubicles and private offices may no longer be suitable.
Despite its complexities, experts predict that hybrid work will become the norm in the future. Bloom predicts that half of all jobs will be hybrid in the future. The reason for this is clear: hybrid work offers a balance between remote work’s flexibility and the ease of relationship-building and collaboration offered by face-to-face interactions.
Companies also benefit from more productive and engaged employees and have more success in recruiting and retaining talent. As Riley puts it, “We’re going to need to keep adapting, but we believe this is a model that will serve our employees and our organization well.”
In this context, products like electric height adjustable standing desks or best sit stand desks can play a crucial role in facilitating a comfortable and productive hybrid work environment. These products offer health benefits of an electric stand up desk by allowing employees to switch between sitting and standing positions, thus promoting better posture and reducing the risk of sedentary lifestyle-related health issues.
In conclusion, despite its complexities, hybrid work offers numerous benefits for both employees and organizations. With clear guidelines, effective communication, flexible policies, and the right office equipment like an electric height adjustable sit stand desk for virtual meetings, organizations can successfully navigate the “messy middle” of hybrid work.
