What are The Advantages of Hybrid Working?

A recent ACAS survey has shown that 60% of employers have seen an increase in the number of employees requesting some form of hybrid working over the past two years. This has led to employers trialing new models of working for their staff to ensure greater flexibility. But what are the most common hybrid working models you’re likely to encounter when searching for a job, and what are the advantages of hybrid working for you as an employee?  

What Does Hybrid Working Actually Mean?

Hybrid working models are ways of managing employees that support multiple ways of working. For example, a hybrid company may have employees working both in-office and remotely at the same time. It aims to combine the advantages of different ways of working, whilst minimising the disadvantages. Hybrid working gives employees greater freedom to choose how they work while at the same time securing productivity. 

Types of Hybrid Working Policy 

There are four main types of hybrid working policies that employers can opt for, and each has its own benefits and disadvantages. Let’s explore the hybrid working models that you might encounter in job descriptions in more detail: 

• Flexible Hybrid

  This form of hybrid working gives you, the employee, the greatest freedom, and autonomy to manage your work. Under a flexible hybrid model employees themselves choose where to work and their hours for the day based on their priorities and workload.
   

• Fixed Hybrid

  This model allows your employer to choose what days employees come into the office based on business needs, workloads, and collaboration. This could mean certain teams on certain days or that the whole company works 10am – 4pm rather than a regular 9-5. One form of fixed hybrid currently being trialed is the move to a national four-day week.
   

• Office-first Hybrid

  In this model employees are expected to be in the office for much of the time but have flexibility to choose one or two days to work elsewhere if they want, or they can choose to leave early as long as their total in office hours add up to their contracted hours. This is a great system for businesses that require a permanent staffed office location but want to give their employees extra flexibility to meet personal needs like childcare.

   

• Remote-first Hybrid

  Employees predominantly work remotely but may be expected to come into the office for large meetings, project requirements and training. 

7 Hybrid Working Advantages

It’s probably clear what advantage’s hybrid working offers your employer, but what benefits does hybrid working offer you as an employee? Each of the different models of hybrid working offer slightly different pros and cons but there are generally seven main benefits to hybrid working for you. 

 1. Better work-life balance

All forms of hybrid working allow for greater flexibility and choice meaning you have more say in how you get your work done, when you work and where. This means it is easier to balance your work with your life outside of work. Whether that’s family, your social life, or your hobbies.
 

 2. Improved wellbeing

Trials of hybrid working models, such as shorter working weeks, have repeatedly shown increases in employee wellbeing, from fewer symptoms of burnout, to reducing stress, to better physical health.
 

 3. Lower commuting costs

Whether you drive to work or use public transport, commuting can be expensive! But it can cost in other ways too, causing stress and taking up your free time outside of work. Hybrid working can help ease these costs by reducing the amount of time and money you spend commuting.

 4. Increased job mobility  

If you no longer need to commute daily but can come into the office less regularly, you can afford to sustain a longer commute meaning the number of jobs available to you just got bigger! Hybrid working can mean that a big city like London that was previously too far or too expensive to live in full time can be within reach.
 

 5. A greater sense of community

One of the best advantages of a hybrid working model is that it allows you to maintain an office presence giving you access to the advantages that come with working with colleagues in person. You can build solid  relationships with your team, collaborate seamlessly, learn things via osmosis, and have the sense of belonging that only comes from face-to-face interaction.
 

 6. Reduce tech fatigue

Technology has opened a lot of doors when it comes to hybrid working. Without video conferencing, high-speed internet, and work management software, it would be impossible for remote working to exist. But tech can be frustrating if it doesn’t work first time, or if your internet drops mid-meeting. Being able to go into the office can help reduce tech fatigue, make it easier to read non-verbal cues in meetings and avoid unnecessary delays.

 7. Better career development

Being in the office can help with your career development. Not only can you access better training resources and information on interesting upcoming projects, you’ll also be able to build trust with those higher up in your organisation, gain information about the qualities they value and better understand how they work. This can be especially important if you are just starting out in your career. Knowing how to work well both in an office and a remote environment will stand you in good stead. 

Hybrid working offers employees the advantages of remote work combined with the advantages of working in-office. 

Looking for your perfect hybrid role? We can help

Based in London or looking to relocate? At Australasian we have an overview of the whole London market, so we know the companies that are hiring and the opportunities available. Whether you are looking for an in-office or hybrid role we can help you connect with employers and find the perfect role. 

Explore our current vacancies or send us your CV!