Describe the Concepts of Hybrid and Flexible Work
Hybrid and flexible are two newer business terms that have changed the way organizations look at accomplishing work—especially in a post-COVID-19 era.
Hybrid work is a newer concept that expresses a shift in balance between working on-site in an office location and working remotely (typically from home). While not all types of jobs and roles support the concepts of hybrid work (for example, manufacturing plants or restaurants), those that do are seeing an increased frequency of workers wanting to spend less time in the office.
Hybrid work scenarios can lead to more productivity—workers are able to spend less time commuting and more time working. However, this increase in productivity can also lead to difficulties in drawing distinctions between work time and personal time,—a situation that can further lead to poor work-life balance (WLB) or even burnout.
While the idea of flexible work (or flexi-time) has been around for a while, it’s being re-applied in scenarios where people can work asynchronously with teams spread across different time zones. Just as not all roles support hybrid work scenarios, not all roles can support flexible work scenarios, either. Some organizations, goals, or projects may require everyone to work in tandem for a period of time. Flexible work concepts allow you to prioritize work tasks to be accomplished during different hours of the day. Hybrid and flexible work together can offer employees benefits that allow them to spend more time with their families and friends while maintaining a high level of consistent output.
Both flexible and hybrid work, however, require trust on the organization’s part and accountability on the worker’s part, to ensure success. Microsoft 365 tools such as Viva can help both employees and managers see how time is being spent and track productivity and employee well-being.
Further Reading
To see insights into Microsoft’s learning on hybrid and flexible work, see https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/flexibility/hybrid-work-solutions.
