A definitive guide to hybrid working in and out of the office

Are you having a hard time deciding between office jobs and remote jobs? Or maybe your current job brings you back to the office part-time. You are now entering the always interesting and sometimes challenging world of hybrid work.

A hybrid workplace allows you to take advantage of the benefits of remote work and the office environment: collaborating and networking with on-site colleagues a few days a week, while starting your weekends earlier to avoid the Friday afternoon rush hour. What could go wrong? Well, a few things. We'll address the pitfalls of a hybrid work environment and show you how to get the most out of a hybrid work schedule.

What is hybrid work?

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Hybrid work means that you spend part of your working time in the office and another part somewhere else. It can be a voluntary model, where you work either in the office or remotely but with the option to choose a hybrid model, or a mandatory model, where you are obliged to do both.

How does a hybrid schedule work?

Employers differ in how much freedom they give their employees in designing their hybrid schedule. At some workplaces you can decide which days you come to the office as long as you meet a certain quota, for example at least two days a week in the office. In other offices, you have full control over when you are in the office and when you are home.

It is also common for upper management or department heads to set the hybrid schedule so that either everyone works in the office on the same days of the week or different teams come on different days to make optimal use of the office space.

A hybrid workplace is not always beneficial for all employees. Security regulations regarding paperwork and electronic documents may prevent certain employees from working from home. Other common exceptions include customer-facing jobs or those that require heavy or expensive equipment.

Two typical hybrid working hours

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The typical hybrid workweek is divided into days in the office and days at home, but some employers also allow you to split workdays in half. For example, you can work in the office in the morning and from home in the afternoon to pick up your children from school.

These are some of the most common hybrid work schedules:

• 3 days in the office, 2 days on the road, 2 days off: also known as 3/2 or 3-2-2
• 2 days in the office, 3 days on the road, 2 days off: also known as 2/3 or 2-3-2

The days you work remotely will either alternate with days in the office or be combined. It is also common for Friday to be a day to work from home so that you can prepare for the weekend.

Here are two typical hybrid work schedules:

3-2-2 Hybrid Schedule:

• Monday: office
• Tuesday: office
• Wednesday: Office
• Thursday: Remote
• Friday: Remote

2-3-2 Hybrid Schedule:

• Monday: distance learning
• Tuesday: office
• Wednesday: Remote
• Thursday: Office
• Friday: Remote

12 common hybrid jobs

Hybrid work arrangements are most common in traditional office jobs that are primarily carried out on computers, so the work can either be done on a laptop or is easily accessible online. It is also most common in workplaces that do not require daily contact with customers or colleagues (although certain face-to-face conversations may be replaced by virtual meetings, emails, chats or phone calls).

These are some examples of jobs and fields that are already familiar with hybrid and/or remote jobs:

• Administrative activities
• IT Jobs
• Finance
• Artistic professions
• mathematics
• Sales careers
• Marketing
• human Resource

Some of the most common hybrid job titles include administrative assistant, recruiter, program manager, and accountant. But even positions that we traditionally think of as in-person jobs can be hybrid. For example, doctors can participate in telemedicine treatments during part of their working week.

The advantages of hybrid working

A hybrid workplace allows you to work remotely without sacrificing the benefits of working in the office, such as: B. the exchange of ideas, networking and informal get-togethers that are natural in an office environment. At the same time, you can enjoy the benefits of telecommuting, including:

• Less commute time, resulting in more free time and less stress.
• A healthier lifestyle with more time for exercise and a wider variety of foods.
• More money in your wallet because you eat out less, spend less money on gas, and pay fewer bills for office clothes and dry cleaning.
• More Customization Options: Do you prefer to work with the air conditioning set at 65 degrees, with loud music, or from the sofa? Or maybe you just want to reheat leftover fish in the microwave? Now you can!
• The ability to work from anywhere: Running out of vacation days but want to take a quick trip during the work week? Have you always wanted to work in the quirky café at the end of the street? This can usually be achieved with a hybrid workplace.
• More quality of life through less stress, more job satisfaction and a better work-life balance.

The challenges of hybrid working

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While a hybrid workplace can represent a good balance between remote and office work, it also brings challenges, such as:

• Less social interaction: Depending on whether you are an introvert or extrovert, limited social contact can have a negative or positive impact. Regardless, remote work can limit opportunities to socialize and form work friendships.
• You may find it difficult to build a positive relationship with your manager if you are not on site at the same time.
• Irony, jokes and subtext can be lost in electronic communication, so be particularly careful when expressing yourself.
• The free exchange of ideas and spontaneous brainstorming possible in an office can suffer from a mixed schedule and cannot be fully replicated in virtual meetings.
• Whether you have roommates or family members at home who distract you, or you have loud colleagues, distractions can occur in both environments.
• Even if you have a work laptop, Wi-Fi outages and other technical issues can make working from home difficult.
• When working from home, it can be harder to unwind (both mentally and literally) at the end of the day, especially if you don't work on an hourly basis.
• There is a risk that you will forget your equipment at home on the days you work in the office if you have devices such as: B. have to bring a laptop back and forth.

6 tips for successful hybrid working

You can overcome many of the challenges of a hybrid workplace if you have a clear strategy. Below are some suggestions for managing hybrid work arrangements:

• Use virtual networking tools. Large companies may have their own systems, but you can also connect with colleagues via social media.
• Make the most of any environment by focusing on tasks that are easier at home than in the office. For example, you can leave team meetings and collaboration in the office and do tasks that require high levels of concentration at home if the office is too noisy.
• Mimic your office environment at home. Dressing professionally and keeping things tidy will help you associate your workplace with work.
• Most people like routine, so try to have a set schedule even if you don't have to.
• Use electronic documents with mobile scanning apps, portable scanners, and cloud services as often as possible, as long as you follow company security policies.
• If possible, carry additional equipment, such as headsets, in both locations.