Hybrid Working: Is It Going to Be the Future of Work?

During the Covid-19 crisis, many businesses suffered significant losses as everyone had to stay at their home, but it couldn't cripple the entire business world. Thanks to remote working, many companies continued production/operation by switching to work from home model. The IT sector strived at the forefront of the industries implementing such a shift.

Even though two and a half years have passed since the pandemic broke out, most software development companies continue offering remote work for most employees. However, a significant chunk is still working from the office. Consequently, leading to questions like -

Will the companies continue with the remote work model, or will they return to the pre-pandemic office work?

One model that answers all such questions is the hybrid work model. Most developers prefer working remotely compared to a 9-5 office job every day.

So, is a hybrid working model the future for developers? Even though this working model has tremendous potential for companies and their employees, taking its advantage requires conscious effort from business leaders and employees simultaneously.

This article discusses the pros and cons of hybrid work for businesses and tips for successfully implementing it for IT professionals.

A hybrid working model is a win-win situation for the company and its employees. It is a perfect balance between remote and on-site working. Here are five benefits of hybrid working.

The hybrid work model allows businesses to reduce costs as only a few employees work from the office. Companies can save money on operating expenses, like lower office maintenance, commuting cost, electricity, meals, etc. Even though some expenses are associated with remote work (tools and equipment), the cost is significantly less compared to full-time in-office work expenses. Ultimately, companies can save immensely by opting for hybrid working.

A WorkInSync report states a company with 100 employees with an in-house setting spends approximately $50,400* per month; however, it can be reduced to around $14,790 per month in hybrid working. These numbers can vary a little depending on the company's size, location, and other factors.

The flexibility of working from home or any other location means a refreshing change of environments that can increase employees' focus and they can concentrate on their work. Employees working in a hybrid model can work on team projects at the office while working on individual work at home. It increases their productivity, and they feel more relaxed. An Owl Labs research found hybrid employees were 22% happier than onsite workers.

The hybrid working model calls for businesses to adopt new technologies to engage with team members and other project stakeholders. If the employees need to discuss something urgently, they can do that using digital tools. Employees don't need to visit the office for meetings and can collaborate and brainstorm ideas anytime, anywhere, ensuring better collaboration and efficiency.

Working from offices requires employees to reach the workplace on time. Many employees stay miles away from the office and commute to and from the office, which can be exhausting. With hybrid work, employees occasionally need to visit the office; consequently, they can spend more time with their family, even on work days.

Hybrid work reduces stress and prevents burnout which is a boon to software developers as they mostly work on tight deadlines. Moreover, employees can choose their working hours and enjoy the rest of the time pursuing their interests, attending social events, or meeting with friends. A LinkedIn 'Future of Work' study 2021, shows about 86% of professionals surveyed think that hybrid working positively impacts their work-life balance.

Hybrid working means fewer employees in the office on any given day. It enables businesses to create efficient spaces for the employees working on-site. The offices will be less cluttered, and everyone will have designated desks.

Moreover, you can utilize the additional space for comfortable couches, phone booths, etc., making the workplace more efficient and comfortable.

The hybrid work model has many advantages, but it has a few disadvantages as well. Let's look at the cons of hybrid working.

As employees mostly work individually and focus on their work, the rapport built around the importance of physical presence at the office goes missing. Employees might feel demotivated and lonely as they communicate less in a remote work model.

The most unique and positive facet of working from an office is its atmosphere and ambiance. Since teams communicate face-to-face instantly, they brainstorm and bounce back ideas from each other organically, leading to a very synchronized and fluid communication and bond between the teams. Working from home leads to virtual meetings for activities that might trigger “Meeting fatigue.” Moreover, company outings are rare in the hybrid working model.

However, limiting the meeting duration and taking frequent breaks can help employees reduce meeting fatigue significantly. Besides that, doing more off-camera meetings whenever possible also makes workers less exhausted.

Another thing to remember is to recognize your employee's efforts and reward them. It also makes them more confident, which improves their productivity.

Cyber attacks are on the rise as hackers are always trying new ways to carry on cyber attacks. Working from home or working remotely entails less data security and higher cyber risks. Employees' personal devices are more vulnerable due to insufficient security measures and protocols.

Additionally, a home internet connection is prone to cyber risks. However, taking proper security measures can help mitigate the risk and make remote working more secure.

Hybrid work means the employees are working alternatively from the office and home, meaning there is more variation in the team's schedule. If there is no consistency with employee scheduling, you might find day-to-day employee resourcing issues. Sometimes employees may be overwhelmed switching between work routines at home and in the office.

Software developers were among the first to shift to remote working when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world. Many employees have been working from remote locations since then. Still, as workers have been vaccinated and the situation is under control now, many companies are calling the developers to join the office. Nevertheless, most developers across companies are still working remotely, though they go to the office occasionally when the need comes.

According to a Stack Overflow survey, 85% of developers say their organization offers a hybrid working model. It means the hybrid work model is here to stay.

Businesses have also realized the benefits of remote working as it boosts productivity and helps them cut operational costs, which adds to their profitability. Another reason hybrid working is likely to be the future of software development is that many developers prefer remote working.

Hybrid work is gaining popularity, but it comes with several challenges. Businesses need to address the successful implementation of the hybrid working model. Here are the best tips to manage your hybrid working strategy.

Defining goals is essential in a hybrid working model. Be clear with the deadline and set expectations to complete the work on time.

When you assign the project, provide clarity to the developers and managers and get everyone on the same page. Discuss any potential challenges and address them at the earliest. Moreover, as they start working, they might face some issues that will require your attention. Keep regular stand-up meetings to resolve such problems and get updates on the project’s progress.

Bringing the entire team together at a specific time can be challenging in a hybrid work model. You have to coordinate between developers in the office and the developers working from home. Even though programmers work at their preferred time, you must have a fixed schedule for daily or weekly meetings when everyone can join. It helps you get an update on the progress and remove any bottlenecks in the work.

Do you recall the first time when you adopted remote working? There was a myriad of challenges in setting up remote working. Even now, developers have to face several issues while working from home. They might have to deal with technological problems and kids or pets wanting their attention, among other distractions. You must incorporate flexibility for better productivity and collaboration among in-office and remote employees.

Remote work means the developers have to depend a lot on technology. Providing them with the best remote tool will make the job easier and ensure they can work efficiently and be more productive while working from home. Here are some tools you can provide to developers for managing work.

• Communication management: Slack, Skype, Zoom
• Task management: Jira, Asana, Trello
• Code management: GitLab, Bitbucket
• Application performance monitoring: Rubix and Nagios
• Note: Evernote, Notion
• Programming: GitHub, Visual Studio Code
• Security: NordVPN, ExpressVPN

A hybrid work model means employees will work from the office and home. It’s important to remember that communication can resolve many issues in a hybrid working environment. Build a communication channel where team members can engage and discuss work-related issues. It is essential for healthy team building and improving collaboration between the developers working on a project.

Hybrid working has its challenges, but there are many advantages. Learning to manage hybrid developers can improve your team’s productivity and efficiency. It also leads to better job satisfaction since most developers prefer hybrid or remote working. However, you need to hire highly talented developers to avail the benefits of hybrid working.

Turing is a talent-sourcing platform that helps businesses hire the best global talent. By collaborating with Turing, you will have the top 1% of experienced developers with excellent technical and communication skills that match Silicon Valley standards.