A work modality that already existed secretly in technology companies during the 2000s was exposed after the outbreak of a virus that forced all of humanity to mutate and adapt in a matter of hours. We are talking about hybrid work, which is gaining ground in the area of human resources and which is the format most chosen by employees. 

An investigation carried out by the North American company Microsoft, yielded surprising results about the good reception that the application of this modality had in people's work routine. According to published statistics, globally 70% of employees prefer flexible remote work options, while 66% of companies are considering redesigning their physical spaces to implement hybrid schemes.

These analyzes also took Latin America as an object of study. In this sense, the numbers revealed that 73% of employees surveyed want to have the option to continue working remotely. However, 43% of Latino managers state that their companies' leadership is not aware of the expectations of their human resources. 

In our country, Microsoft publications determined that 94% of workers prioritize organizations that allow hybrid work. Particularly, this group includes the Millennial age group -18 to 34 years old- and people who work in the technology sector (96%).

Now, when we talk about something hybrid, perhaps we can imagine the image of a centaur or minotaur, right? Well, that's what it's about. The combination that allows two or more elements to be substantially enhanced is the logical response for new organizations when they ask why to abandon the traditional.

Hybrid work, what is it about?

To discover a little more about this wonderful world of teleworking, We can begin by describing that hybrid work is a modality that seeks to create conditions of balance between activities that are carried out remotely and those that involve a physical space. In this sense, the greatest benefit that this practice provides is the possibility of carrying out tasks in a flexible and independent way, reconciling the personal and professional sphere of the collaborator.

Characterized by providing simple and intelligent experiences, putting this way of working into practice requires certain elements that make rapid and effective execution possible. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation help provide intuitive and functional solutions that greatly benefit the employee experience (EX), also known as the collaborator experience.

Thanks to hybrid work, each person has the ability to send and receive messages, meet, share relevant content and collaborate securely and autonomously from anywhere on the planet.

The pillars of hybrid work

As for the foundations that make this modality so particular, we can mention the following: flexibility, inclusion, support and security.

Regarding the first pillar, it can be said that employees working for the same company can be connected and distributed in different time zones and countries. Each one has a specific need, adopting a work style and affordable tools. On the other hand, it provides greater functional flexibility, increasing the agility of the organization.

The inclusion parameter has to do with the fact that companies do everything possible to adapt to the requirements of employees and guarantee an excellent work experience. Consequently, the benefit ends up being mutual, since people benefit by participating fully from the comfort of their home and the company will obtain much more proactive and satisfied workers.

Another important issue for the development of hybrid work is closely related to the support provided by companies to people. We know well that experiencing a global health crisis exposes us to life or death situations that, without a doubt, require a support mentality at all levels of an organization. Indeed, this will make individuals more content and comfortable from an emotional point of view. Therein lies the need to establish smarter networks and workplaces that are prepared to support the hybrid workforce.

Technology and hybrid work

Speaking of the topic of security, it is not new that connectivity problems were common during the pandemic. That is why one of the first tasks that a company must ensure is the guarantee that all members of a team can work and collaborate from a reliable connection, from anywhere, free of worries regarding cyber attacks for example. 

Strategic use of smart devices in hybrid workspaces can help prevent workers from experiencing video fatigue. Organizations and their workers can use data insights to understand how to improve work-life integration, helping to build higher quality connections between individuals and teams.

Businesses can also use smart apps to help reduce office anxiety that some workers may develop when returning to the office after prolonged periods of working from home.

Organizations that are successful in hybrid work practice these pillars that place humans at the center of business strategies and, With the support of technology, they close a win-win cycle, where customers benefit from delivery excellence and employees combine productivity and flexibility.  

It is time to be proactive and make strategic decisions to obtain achievable and beneficial results for everyone. It's time to apply the right strategies, tools, products, processes and expectations to weather any future disruption. Your company's collaborators? Satisfied.