We're Talking all Things #HYBRID
You got a new Prius?
No, the other hybrid. Meaning, hybrid work situations as white collar professionals either head back to the office, stay at home, or do a little of both this summer.
Why should we be talking about it?
Because everyone’s talking about it. And for good reason. While our country has most recently been divided on issues of political nature, this seems to be dividing people in three camps of opinion: 1) remote work 2) traditional office work and 3) hybrid work. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know which camp you fall into.
Say I have been living under a rock…
Then you should upgrade to a better Airbnb. In terms of hybrid/non-hybrid work options, here’s our run down:
Remote work was great over the last year. But… it had its drawback. Cats jumping up on our keyboards during Zoom calls, working until 7:00 p.m. on Fridays because there are #noboundaries, staying in our pajamas all day and forgetting about normal hygiene, having to teach children how to divide while also hustling for a good performance review… the list goes on. Many of us were forced into a WFH situation that was frustrating, less productive, and blurred the lines between work and home. Candidly, it got to the point where I was watching Netflix during the workday from my couch (while also working…), and it didn’t seem weird. What else didn’t seem weird? Taking a break every 30 minutes to play with my cats or eat dill pickles out of the jar when I got hungry. #normal
So yes, it did have its advantages. Folding laundry on your lunch break meant less housework after hours. Being so close to a fully stocked kitchen meant you could have almost anything for lunch (including elaborate salads and veggies burgers cooked on a stove). And most importantly, you hardly ever had to put “hard pants” on (i.e. the opposite of soft pants, otherwise known as sweatpants). It was nice at times.
Returning to the office means commuting, putting on shoes, packing a lunch, and having to interact with humans without clicking a link. It’s a lot, we know. But it also means after work happy hours, natural collaboration and team camaraderie, idea generation, and looking good in front of the boss without interrupting Jason on the Teams call. It’s a little bit of a culture shock, and the natural breaks we would have taken throughout the day (Re: the dill pickle situation) are gone. We are forced to perform, be productive, and get back to the way things were prior to COVID-19.
So… hybrid? Exactly. Many companies want the best of both worlds (insert Hannah Montana theme song here). But we know you can’t have your cake and eat it too, (or in Hannah’s case, chill it out take it slow, then rock out the show). Hybrid conditions could mean some staff is in office full time while others are remote full time, while other models look like 3 days a week at the office, and 2 days a week at home, with the employee deciding which days they want to go in. This generates a lot of chatter. And we mean, a LOT of chatter. Everyone has an opinion (probably even Miley—er, Hannah).
So what do we do about it?
Unclear. If you’re lucky enough to be working in this hybrid environment, then you’re probably noticing the drawbacks. Employees who are remote will likely get passed over for promotions, extra opportunities, or could be forgotten for new initiatives. Out of sight, out of mind is real when you have some staff members at your disposal working 10 feet away.
Getting everyone together in the conference room for a brainstorm session doesn’t just mean you get to talk without saying “Oh! No, sorry you go first.” It means you can read body language, facial expressions, and no one has the option to be ‘camera off.’ You’re getting the full human experience that remote employees won’t. Meaning trust, companionship, collaboration, and teamwork is being built by the in-person staff, while others are at home folding socks. Not to mention inside jokes will get created, which can alienate co-workers faster than not wearing pink on Wednesday. #YouCantSitWithUs #IsButterACarb
On the other hand, working from home means those annoying interruptions from Brenda at reception are eliminated when you have a big project you need to focus on. With the kids at summer camp and your partner working in the office, it could mean you just got 8 hours of a really productive day, with no one walking by to say, “do you have a few minutes to talk?” #2hourslater
Giving employees the flexibility to choose has never really been a widespread option. And of course some companies aren’t giving folks the choice, they are implementing measures and seeing how things go. Which is really what we’ve all been doing since March 2020.
Well, what are you doing?
Here at Spur Impact, we’re currently embracing a ‘don’t put a label on it’ approach that involves 4 days a week in the office, and 1 day a week at home. So far, it’s working out well, though our feet haven’t really adjusted to normal shoes. Personally, I’ve really enjoyed adding a commute back into my routine, something I thought I would dread. Having a half hour to and from work means time for my brain to transition, reset, and prepare for the next portion of my day. I have better boundaries, am less likely to work late, and I am excited about wearing real clothes again, if you can believe it.
If you’re curious about diving more into this issue, check this article. It has opinions from a lot of different industries, and showcases the pros and cons of each option really well.
Whether you’re currently facing this massive transition or watching from the sidelines, we wish you the best of luck. And maybe recommend investing in a comfortable pair of sneakers in the meantime.