Hybrid Working - the way forward?

There has been a lot of conversation and thought about the phenomenon that was introduced during the pandemic, but what seems to have been missed is the adjustments people had to make in order to stay employed and work from home.

It was not easy, especially for those of us who were used to an office environment, missing the social aspect of travelling to and from (as well as the various frustrations of trains not running on time), the interaction with colleagues when we were present.

We had to adapt to Zoom or Teams calls, setting up an environment at home that gave time and space to operate effectively, ensuring connections were viable etc. Some of us then had to juggle childcare or educating our young people whilst still doing the day job. Others had to care for sick relatives or manage those relationships by phone. Still others were alone, they invested in pets for companionship and to help with loneliness. We proved how adaptable we can be, only now to be faced with demands from employers to get back into an office, even though we have proved how productive we can be.

Increasingly of my clients discuss their careers and expectations for the future. In the main, they understand that most employers want a presence in an office, but also know, in some cases, will only consider an opportunity that allows them the freedom of a hybrid version - days in the office when essential or for face-to-face meetings. Other than that, if the job can be done at home and the productivity is there, why not have a hybrid version?

As humans, we love a routine, walking the little ones to school, taking the dog for a walk, having that first glorious cup of coffee whilst reading the news - for our mental health they are all important, they set us up for the day. New routines were established during the pandemic which we are now finding hard to break, because they allowed us time to breathe. We were not as governed by the clock, we could pace ourselves, work the hours that we would normally, just spread them differently while getting the job done effectively.

I strongly believe ‘hybrid working’ is the way forward and unless employers understand that their staff and future employees want that and stop demanding an office presence, they are going to miss out.