The workplace is changing. As more and more companies are moving into the cloud, they’re looking for new solutions that will help them meet their goals while also saving money on IT infrastructure costs. One of these trends is hybrid workspaces where employees can work in one location but connect with other teams remotely using software such as Skype or WebEx.
These types of offices have been around since at least 2000 when Google opened its first office outside Silicon Valley, California.
However, it wasn’t until recently that this trend really started gaining momentum. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, and many others now offer some form of a remote working solution so that their staff don’t need to be physically present in an office all day long.
The idea behind this type of arrangement is to provide flexibility in terms of how people choose to get things done while still being able to maintain close ties with colleagues. But it’s not just about convenience – there are many potential benefits that come along with having a hybrid setup.
The Benefits Of Hybrid Workspaces
There are many benefits associated with using a hybrid workplace:
1. Increased Productivity
An office-based work environment is not the best place to be if you want to get things done, and this can lead to increased stress levels as well as an overall lack of focus on what’s important in life.
2. Reduced Absenteeism
Employees who work from home tend to have higher rates of absenteeism than those that work at their desk, which means they miss more days off due to illness or other reasons. This also leads to lower morale within the team.
3. Improved Health & Wellbeing
Working from home has been linked to poor sleep patterns, depression and anxiety, so it’s better for your mental health to spend time working face-to-face rather than sitting alone at home all day long.
The Best Ways to Make Hybrid Workspaces Better
Here are seven tips for making the most out of your hybrid workspaces:
Create a Culture of Trust and Transparency
One thing that will keep your hybrid workers happy is knowing that everyone around them understands why they need to stay away from the office when they don’t feel up to going into the office. If they know that their manager/boss knows everything they’re doing, then they won’t fear losing their job over something like missing meetings or taking too much sick leave.
This doesn’t mean that managers should go through each employee’s calendar every week; instead, set clear expectations regarding communication between teams and let members know what information is expected and what isn’t.
Provide Your Virtual Team With Company Swag to Make Them Feel Included
The presence of physical items such as toys, t-shirts, coffee mugs, pens, notebooks etc., creates an environment conducive for communication and productivity. This also encourages employees to spend more time working together rather than competing against each other.
Additionally, when you send gifts to your virtual team, you create a personal connection that brings everyone closer together. Sending branded products will add value to your brand image and strengthen customer relationships.
Best Company Swag Ideas
Custom YETI Mug
YETI mugs aren’t common, run-of-the-mill mugs. They are shatterproof, insulated. And are meant for more than just a classic cup of joe. They are practical, yet personal and are something the employee can use on a day-to-day basis.
Branded Gift Set
You can give branded gift baskets filled with goodies that the employee is bound to love. From leather wallets and keychains to perfumes and face masks, you can choose any branded gift set depending on the interests of the employee you are giving the classic gift to.
Add a handwritten, personalized message inside the box to take it up a notch.
Custom Bluetooth Speaker
Long and sleek custom speakers enabled a user to listen to music out loud. With incredible surround sound. Custom speakers are a perfect gift that will get anyone excited.
Speakers have so many uses, listen to music, broadcast a podcast, or even leave it in a boardroom for those who call it. This custom speaker is both desirable and awesome.
Provide Flexible Working Options
It may seem obvious, but providing different types of working arrangements allows your staff to find a solution that suits them.
For example: if you have an employee who prefers to work at home most days, provide her with access to company resources so she can complete tasks without having to be in the office. Or maybe there are employees who prefer to come into the office during certain times on specific days?
You could offer flex-time hours based on those preferences. It might help to make sure all team members understand how these benefits work before offering them—and communicate clearly about any changes to existing policies.
Create A Supportive Environment For Your Virtual Team
A lot of organizations tend to forget about their virtual employees while they focus only on their physical ones. But what happens when something goes wrong with your virtual employee? You may be thinking that things will go smoothly since everyone works from home.
Well, that isn’t true at all. When people aren’t able to meet face to face, they start feeling isolated and disconnected. They also feel like they don’t belong anywhere anymore. This can cause many problems such as stress, anxiety, lack of motivation, etc.
If you want your virtual workers to stay productive, create a supportive environment by providing them with opportunities to connect with colleagues and managers through video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.
These platforms allow people to interact seamlessly without having to worry about being seen or heard. It gives them more freedom than traditional offices which makes them less stressed out. Also, ensure that your virtual staff gets regular feedbacks and updates so that they get a sense of belongingness.
Use Technology To Manage Time & Space Inefficiently
Today, technology plays a major role in how businesses operate. From payroll systems to CRM software, everything now runs via computers.
As a result, companies need to invest heavily in IT infrastructure. While most organizations see this investment as part of running their business, it actually provides great benefits too.
One example of this is time tracking solutions like Toggl. With the help of Toggl, you can easily track every minute spent on specific tasks across different projects/teams.
By knowing exactly how much time each person spends on certain activities, you can allocate resources efficiently. Allocating desks to individuals according to actual usage patterns ensures that you use up available spaces wisely.
Make Sure Everyone Is Equally Accountable
One of the biggest challenges faced by any manager is keeping his/her team accountable. Even though accountability should be applied equally among all members of a group, unfortunately, it often seems unfair.
Many leaders believe that one individual should take responsibility for the entire team whereas another believes that no one member deserves special treatment. Either way, the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes.
What this means is that you shouldn’t hold anyone responsible for the performance of someone else. Instead, you should encourage collaboration and teamwork amongst your team members.
If there are issues within the team, then make sure that these are addressed immediately.
Try Not to Micromanage your Teams in Hybrid Workspaces
Let them work independently but provide guidance if needed. The best thing you can do is to give clear instructions and let them know where they stand.
This helps them understand their responsibilities better and allows them to grow professionally.
If you find yourself asking questions regularly, try to figure out whether you’re doing enough or not. Asking for advice will only benefit both parties.
Closing With Hybrid Workspaces
Hybrid workspaces have become increasingly popular over recent years. They combine the advantages of traditional offices with those of remote workers.
For starters, they allow employees to get away from distractions while still being connected to colleagues at home and at the office. It’s easier to collaborate remotely because people don’t feel isolated.
It’s also beneficial for managers since they no longer need to worry about managing multiple locations. Employees can come into the office whenever they want without disrupting daily operations.
As much as we’d like to think otherwise, our lives are becoming busier every day. We juggle jobs, family commitments, friends, and hobbies just to keep everything under control. However, some things simply cannot wait until tomorrow.
Implement these 7 tips to better improve your companies hybrid workspaces today to boost your companies morale!
