What Makes a Strong and Long-Lasting Hybrid Culture? Current Best Practices to Consider

Hybrid workplaces are rapidly becoming the new normal in the business world. New technology and communications are increasing companies’ productivity and flexibility in equal measures. A hybrid culture lets employees divide their working hours between a centralized office and an off-site location. Some do their jobs remotely, some work in the office, and some split their time between the two.

When properly run, a hybrid culture has benefits that cannot be ignored. Workers save time on commutes and have the flexibility to address other aspects of their lives, all without decreasing productivity. Meanwhile, companies can save significant money on daily expenses and recruit skilled prospective employees from anywhere in the world.

Some companies are scaling back on remote or hybrid work as living with the coronavirus pandemic becomes more manageable. However, forward-looking businesses know a hybrid culture retains good employees, cuts costs, and offers flexibility in facing challenges.

So, once you’ve invested in the technology to maintain a hybrid workplace, what’s next? How can you ensure you establish a culture that will serve your company and employees for years to come? Here are some best practices that can help.

Provide Tailored Employee Experience for Hybrid Workplace

The Great Resignation was, in part, a result of employees taking stock of their lives, employers, and priorities. Now, the concept of work is more about what people do rather than where they’re located. The need for a better work-life balance became a priority for many employees.

Videoconferencing technology and advanced software that promote a hybrid culture offer flexibility and ensure remote workers can do their jobs. Employees have benefited greatly—they’re free to pick up a child from school, or they no longer face a grueling commute at the end of the day.

Businesses see benefits as well. The flexibility in a hybrid culture improves productivity and builds employee loyalty and satisfaction. The company maintains a high quality of work but reduces office expenses by no longer having to support all its employees during the workday. In addition, managers can cast a wider net when seeking qualified people to fill positions.

The results have been successful enough to make hybrid culture a long-term phenomenon, but companies must also address individual needs. For instance, a single worker in their 20s will have different priorities than a married one in their 30s or one with a family. A strong and long-lasting hybrid culture addresses these needs by letting employees decide where they work.

Flexibility is essential, with benefits and working conditions that allow employees to meet their requirements in their way. By recognizing this early and putting the proper technology in place, businesses can build a strong hybrid culture in which their employees will thrive.

Leverage Technology to Provide Seamless Experience Between Remote and Office Work

As part of a tailored experience, the location for a given employee on an average workday will differ depending on their needs. Some workers will happily work from home, while others will want the camaraderie and synergy of an in-person environment. And, of course, some need to be in the physical location to effectively do their jobs. Then, you’ll have true hybrid workers, dividing their time between on-site and remote work.

Your business will likely have a mixture of in-person, remote, and hybrid employees. So, you need to prioritize communications technology that gives your team seamless integration no matter where they work. Many companies are utilizing the cloud more and more, which allows electronic documents and other information to be transferred rapidly. This creates an additional need to keep files protected with cybersecurity and accessible to those who need them quickly.

Hybrid workplace schedulers and similar pieces of software can be a huge boon in this regard, letting your team get what they need quickly and stay connected no matter where they are.

Offer Unique Employee Benefits for Hybrid Workforce

The move toward a hybrid culture accelerated during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, and indeed many of its benefits were discovered as businesses adjusted their norms to meet the extraordinary needs of that time. This shift accentuated the need for health insurance, retirement plans, and similar amenities, which had to be adjusted to meet the needs of a hybrid work environment.

Employees have begun seeking these benefits as a way of improving their quality of life, and they won’t hesitate to leave an employer whose benefits are lacking. Companies looking to attract and retain top talent should integrate such amenities into their hybrid culture and modify existing plans to accommodate new technology such as telemedicine. In addition, executives would be wise to expand offerings to include physical and mental wellness plans and generous paid time off packages.

Strengthen Employee Communication and Engagement

Successful collaboration is important in any business, and the realities of a hybrid culture mean teamwork must often take place over physical distances. Ineffective communication can cut remote workers off and unable to access what they need—eliminating one of the big benefits of a hybrid work model in the process. This can have dire effects on your business’s efficiency.

Strong employee communication and engagement emphasize the needs of remote workers and give them a voice in the company’s processes. As a result, you create a durable and healthy hybrid culture that delivers ongoing benefits to your company. Again, the right software can facilitate employee empowerment, increasing the bonds and easing the connection that allows for ideal hybrid communication.

Develop Your Hybrid Culture With Smarten Spaces

Hybrid work culture is here to stay, and business leaders that can accommodate the changing needs of employees will be best equipped to take advantage of it. A healthy hybrid culture relies on the right technology to leverage the potential benefits.

Smarten Spaces has dedicated packages specifically designed to facilitate a robust hybrid culture in any business environment. To see what we can do for you, contact us today for a demonstration.