After all the upheaval of the past couple of years, employers and employees alike are seeing some of the changes to their work life become more permanent. One of the most popular measures has proved to be the hybrid or blended work model, where employees spend 2 or 3 days in the office, as well as 2 or 3 days working from home. Employers are increasingly expected to provide their staff with a degree of flexibility in managing their own schedules, with the digital world allowing remote meetings and less commuting. But while there are immediate and clear benefits to a hybrid working model, what are the wider implications for employers? Why is it vital to consider switching to hybrid working for your employees?
At CareerWise, we are experts in all things employment. Here is our guide to hybrid and blended work in Ireland today.
What is a hybrid / blended work model?
Hybrid or blended work simply means employees can choose a mixture of on-site and at-home working. Some roles will of course dictate the amount of home working that is possible, and for some roles it won’t be possible at all. But with advances in technology and the prevalence of high speed internet connections, many jobs can now be done remotely. The idea is to take the best parts of the last couple of years and use them to create a more fluid working model that works for everyone.
Do employees want hybrid working?
It is clear that employees do want a hybrid working model. A large survey of workers (the Work Trend Index*) found that 73% wanted flexible work options to stay. Additionally, a survey in the US found that 55% of employees wanted a mixture of home and office working.
*The Work Trend Index survey was conducted by an independent research firm, Edelman Data x Intelligence, among 31,092 full-time employed or self-employed workers across 31 markets between January 12, 2021 to January 25, 2021.
What are the benefits of hybrid working?
Employees see hybrid working as a chance to improve their work-life balance, with no time wasted on commuting, and the ability to work around key times of their day such as the school run. But there are many benefits for employers too. Greater employee satisfaction leads to increased talent retention rates; their operating costs become lower as they need less office space; and their organisation in general becomes more adaptable, making moves between locations much simpler.
What are the down sides of hybrid working?
Isolation and lack of communication are common concerns about remote working, and there is a real danger of digital burnout for employees who spend all day in online meetings, with no real human interaction. There can be a blurring of the distinction between work and home life, making it hard to switch off at the end of the day. Those who are based at home may feel excluded from group discussions and find it hard to interact with management.
Why do employers need to offer hybrid working?
With competition for talent such a feature of the current recruitment market, employers need to be aware of the desire among candidates for flexible positions. Companies that don’t offer a hybrid working model will struggle to hire and retain the best employees. People want more flexibility and a better work-life balance following the disruption of the pandemic, and the idea of hybrid working has become a key part of that. Here at CareerWise, we have found that roles offering a blended model receive more applications than those that are fully office based.
How to transition to a hybrid working model
Transitioning to a hybrid working model can feel like a real challenge for employers. Communication is the key.
Are you looking to hire for a blended role? At CareerWise we are experts in helping you transition to the realities of the new working world. With 5 offices nationwide we connect the best talent to the finest roles, every time. Get in touch today to see how we can help you.
Conor is a sales professional with approx. 14 years experience in the Recruitment, Property and Advertising industries.
Conor has a background in engineering recruitment for clients based in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors throughout Ireland.
He holds a Diploma in Human Resources Management and he is also a qualified auctioneer.
Conor joined CareerWise in June 2016 as a Senior Recruitment Consultant.
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CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
Email: info@careerwise.ie
