Benefits of Flexible and Hybrid Working
Flexible working and hybrid working are two of the most talked-about trends in business today. Both have been proven to improve employee satisfaction, productivity and performance, all while reducing costs and increasing revenue. In this article, we’ll look at why this is so and how flexible and hybrid working can benefit your organisation.
Work from Anywhere, At Any Time
You need to know that flexible working is not the same as hybrid working. Hybrid working is a combination of remote and office working. Flexible working is where people can choose when, where and how they work.
The way we think about work has changed forever, it’s no longer just about being in an office every day; workers want more flexibility and freedom over their schedule. This means that if you want to get ahead in your career, then learning how to use both remote and office ways of working will be key to your success!
The Benefits of Hybrid and Flexible Working
Work-Life Balance
Flexible and hybrid working are great for achieving a better work-life balance.
Working from home can help employees achieve a healthier work-life balance. The flexibility of working outside the office will mean that you are able to fit more into your day and make sure that you get those important tasks done. This is without having to worry about getting stuck in traffic or missing out on some extra hours with the family because you have to stay late at work.
This is also true if you are able to choose when and where you do your work rather than being tied into regimented office hours. You may be able to start earlier in the morning, before everyone else arrives; or finish later in the evening after everyone has left; which means that again, there will be fewer distractions while trying get things done during normal working hours.
Productivity or Performance Benefits
By enabling employees to work remotely and at times of their choosing, flexible and hybrid working can result in improved productivity or performance benefits.
- Ability to work from anywhere at any time – Employees can choose when they work, whether it be before or after school hours, on weekends or public holidays. This means they’re not tied down by office hours and can take advantage of other opportunities that arise in the day.
- Ability to work from any device – Employees do not need to be at their desk with a laptop in order to get work done. They can also use tablets or smartphones when they are away from the office so they don’t have to carry around heavy books/notes etc.
Wellbeing or Mental Health Benefits
Flexible and hybrid working have a positive impact on the mental health of employees, and are an effective tool for improving performance.
Improved wellbeing is associated with improved productivity, job satisfaction, performance and employee retention. This is because it helps people feel more in control of their lives as well as being able to work effectively when they need to. Some benefits include increased happiness, greater job engagement and reduced stress levels, all of which can lead to:
- An increase of employee productivity.
- A huge increase in employee retention rates.
- A reduction in absence rates.
Costs or Financial Benefits
Flexible working can save you money in the long run, as it reduces the need for office space, equipment and furniture. This may also mean that your business can avoid paying for utilities and other costs associated with maintaining an office.
Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of flexible and hybrid working are clear. By reducing the need for office space, fewer buildings will be constructed and subsequently occupied by employees. Furthermore, people who work remotely are less likely to travel on business. If they do travel, it’s usually in a more efficient way than regular commuters. This means that businesses will be able to reduce their carbon footprint as well as their emissions footprint.
Social Value Benefits
In addition to the commercial value benefits of flexible and hybrid working, there are also social value benefits. These can include:
- Increased productivity and better employee engagement. Research shows that when employees have a choice about how they work, they are more likely to be engaged in their work and motivated to do their best. The evidence suggests that this is because people who are able to choose how they work tend to enjoy what they do more than those who don’t have a choice or aren’t allowed flexibility.
- A reduced carbon footprint. The less you travel for meetings and other activities, the less CO2 emissions you will produce as a result of your business travel costs going down.
Business Resilience and Risk Management Benefits
Flexible working can help businesses to reduce the costs associated with travel and meeting time, as well as increasing productivity.
This has a positive knock-on effect, as it reduces the amount of time employees spend on their commute to work, thus giving them more free time and less stress after work too.
Flexible working also tends to increase employee satisfaction and retention rates. In fact, flexible working is directly linked to high levels of employee engagement which helps your business build better teams that are more productive than ever before.
Hybrid Working is a Win-Win: Good for Your Business and Good for Your People
Hybrid working is a win-win: good for your business and good for your people.
Why? Because it can help you to retain and attract talent, be more productive and efficient, and support flexible working arrangements. It also helps to de-clutter office spaces by removing the need for dedicated areas or desks.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, hybrid working isn’t just a way to get workers to do more work while they’re at home. It’s a way to make your business more productive and resilient by giving your people the freedom and flexibility they need to do their best work without sacrificing their personal lives. The benefits go both ways: you’ll see higher productivity and performance, while your employees will feel happier and healthier at work.