Hybrid work? Organizations have started bringing employees back on-site. But some moms are nervous about returning to an in-person location five days a week. They are negotiating to work a few days at home and a few days on site - what has been referred to as the hybrid work option. What would you prefer?
Rita has two children. She has worked in the same company for over a decade. Like many others, she was forced to work from home during the pandemic.
During a recent meet up, she told me her employer wants them to return to onsite work in a few months.
She had bonded even more so well with her children during this past year. She has also enjoyed not having to commute to work. But she sometimes feels isolated and would love some adult interaction. She is nervous about getting a new babysitter. What would she do?
She is planning on negotiating a hybrid work pattern. She wants to work from home Monday to Wednesday and do Thursdays and Fridays on-site.
Can you relate to Rita?
In the past, you either worked from home or worked on-site. Only a few individuals had the option of a hybrid work pattern.
Then came the pandemic of 2020. Nearly everyone worked from home.
Many struggled to adapt for the first few months to this change. Mom's presence at home was automatically read as she being available for everything she would normally do. She gradually mastered the art of joggling work and caring for everyone and everything. With time, even dads as well as moms report enjoying the luxury afforded by working from home.
Thankfully, things are gradually opening up in many places.
Whereas employers want their employees to return to working on-site, many employees, especially moms like Rita, are reluctant to return to working on-site full time again.
Though working from home has its challenges, there are upsides to doing so.
Why would you not want to return to site to work, many employees have been asked.
The attractions of working from home includes but not limited to:
No wonder many employees would rather continue to work from home full time! But working from home also comes with some challenges.
Yes. There is always another side to a story. Working from home has its own issues.
They include:
Workers are quitting jobs in record numbers, post-covid.
Forward-looking employers or CEOs should take a closer look.
Employers need to innovate or become irrelevant. Blockbuster stuck to its old ways - the same status quo. Their lunch got eaten by companies like Netflix. And sadly, they have gone the path of the dodo!
Employers need to choose if they want to stay relevant or become dinosaurs. Now is the time to innovate, retrain and empower their employees.
Hybrid work option could potentially be a win-win for both employers and employees.
Hybrid work has its challenges, but that is the way the world is going now. Employers would not want to ignore this trend because of the inherent challenges it brings. The following are common problems with hybrid work option and how to mitigate them:
These initial teething problem should not discourage employers from welcoming hybrid work model. Instead, train your employees to be self-governing and find the sweet spot that will optimize productivity. You may then just realize that hybdrid working is perhaps a God sent option that would boost your bottom line.
Yes. Hybrid work is a relatively new concept for many organizations. Many moms like this option - and some men will not say no to this either.
I hope employers will be better able to cope with the nuances associated with hybrid work and increasingly offer this to their staff.
If you are a mom, what is your preference for work and why? Please comment below! And if you are an employer, will you allow the hybrid work option?
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