The adoption of remote models has been possible because of the technology enabling employees and employers to connect virtually. Read more to better understand how technology serves as a bridge between employees and employers under a hybrid working model.
Table of Contents
New Challenges Introduced by Hybrid Working
On the whole, hybrid work is still a fairly new practice. Work from home, whether for the whole week or on selected days, has given rise to new challenges with cybersecurity, communication, collaboration, employee experience, and tracking. These challenges are countered by the proper leverage of suitable technology.
How Technology Facilitates Hybrid Working
Different technological solutions have facilitated businesses to operate in hybrid and remote settings. The following are the areas in which technology supports a hybrid working model and mitigates various challenges:
Employee Experience
A holistic employee experience is critical for retaining your existing employees and attracting top talent. Work from different locales and limited interactions can create a feeling of isolation among employees. According to one study, 90% of executives confirmed that connection and culture were lacking among their remote team members. Cultivating company culture via traditional approaches is hard when an organization’s employees are working remotely; leveraging a virtual office environment that promotes company culture helps organizations to offer a singular work experience, promoting continuity and consistency.
Hiring managers can use advanced technology to make interviews more engaging compared to traditional video calls. Further, the ease of company portals when dispatching open enrollment communication might also create a better and more consistent employee experience. A mix of virtual and physical team activities can promote company culture across multiple teams in a hybrid work model.
Cybersecurity
With growing digital threats, security is a primary concern for any corporate network. Organizations have a protected network on their premises; however, a disparate workforce creates many new security challenges for employees and employers alike. Structuring network designs, VPNs, and dedicated company-provided devices with these challenges in mind may significantly lower network vulnerabilities. Access to the company’s sensitive data from the cloud with access control and encryption can help secure data. Training sessions for employees can further mitigate risk.
Taking the right steps from the outset saves your organization from any security breaches and a resulting workplace investigation process.
Communication and Collaboration
Communication and collaboration is another challenge for hybrid teams; however, different applications allow for virtual meetings, sending files and messages, and tracking progress. Encouraging regular meetings nurtures team unity and accelerates conflict resolution with problematic or Open Enrollment Communication. Frequent communication enables your employees to stay updated and informed.
Productivity
Many C-suite executives have concerns about the productivity of employees working from home. Lack of motivation and low employee morale can negatively affect productivity. It is important to have policies to counteract low morale and burnout overall.
Making use of employee analytics technology helps organizations gain insight into employee behaviors, and performance. It could also be a great way to create an unbiased performance appraisal process. Conducting surveys within the organization to see what motivates most employees helps to formulate strategies that save employees from undue stress.
Conclusion
Hybrid work is a new model that will certainly pose many challenges in the coming years. Leveraging technology and implementing employee-centric supporting policies is crucial for the effectiveness of hybrid work in the coming years. However, one point of note is that every organization is different; so are its working policies. There is no universal hybrid model to cater to every organization’s needs.
