Hybrid working The do's and don'ts in the (hybrid) workplace
What does hybrid work mean for employees and their involvement in the organisation? Ella Hafermalz – a researcher at the KIN Center for Digital Innovation – was already doing research on remote working before the pandemic. 'It's a challenge, but I definitely see an opportunity for starters.'
Before receiving her PhD, Ella experienced what it was like to work remotely. A four hours' flight from the office, she lacked connection with the rest of the team, who did work in the office. ‘I asked myself: “Am I doing enough? Am I being seen? What's going on within the company?"’ In her PhD research, she decided to further investigate remote working: ‘how do you stay connected to your work and to your colleagues if you don’t work in the office? And what role does technology play in this?’ She concludes: ‘Hybrid working doesn't have to be a problem; it's about how we deal with it.’
Show yourself Hybrid working can especially be a challenge for starters, Ella says. ‘Where previously the physical office was the connecting factor of the organisation, nowadays sometimes a central point is missing and only some of the colleagues meet each other physically. As a result, starters feel extra pressure because they are physically less visible and are also new to the working world.’ But every new situation brings with it opportunities.
Ella emphasises how important it is to show yourself. ‘Some people will encourage you to have a marketing mentality. However, being visible is not just about showing off. You need to be visible in a meaningful way – listen, and contribute, in both online and offline spaces.’ Being physically present does not have to be the ultimate way of being seen, according to her. ‘That only creates pressure. It would be ideal if it were not required to be physically present. And that's where the importance of management comes in. Managers need to ask themselves the question: how do I involve my employees remotely and prevent people from feeling left out?’
"Some see the chit-chat during or after work as unproductive. But it is actually necessary."
Stay in contact Ella says how important it is to keep talking to each other, especially in this challenging form of working. ‘Don't just invest in contact with people in your own team, but also in contact with colleagues from different departments.’ That way you get a better picture of what the organisation looks like, and you can learn a lot from other people. ‘Be proactive and don't wait around!’
According to Ella, the advantage of hybrid working is that barriers have been removed. It's easier to reach everyone within an organisation and hierarchy is more blurred. ‘It is important that you dare to be assertive and have an online view of who everyone is. A good profile of everyone (with a photo and email address) should be available. So, it's like a little employee directory.’ Ella says that an accessible chat function within the organisation can also be very useful. ‘This offers an informal way to stay in touch with each other.’
According to Ella, this informal contact is extremely important. ‘Some see the chit-chat during or after work as unproductive. But it is actually necessary. You pick up a lot of information at those moments and develop relationships.’ In one of her studies, a camera was even put in the office so people at home could see and hear what was going on there and so they could occasionally join the chat. ‘Of course, this could be simpler. It's about being allowed to check in with each other from time to time and let off steam, and that's also perfectly possible online.’
Work-life balance The work-life balance is more difficult to maintain when you work from home a lot. ‘In some countries, they are working to protect this balance with laws and regulations. For example, managers are no longer allowed to send emails after a certain time. Or the entire server will be turned off so that no one can email anymore.’ She emphasises that these are far-reaching measures but talking about them is already a good first step. ‘I think employees can also play an important role in this by talking and giving each other the feeling that it is good to set boundaries.’ She underlines how important it is to stand up for your own well-being. ‘Really see your well-being as a priority.’
Share new ideas Ella sees more opportunities for starters. ‘Many companies are looking for new ideas. As a starter, don't be afraid to share. A fresh take can be very enlightening. I think the new generation of workers has a lot to offer.’ She is convinced that the most successful companies in the coming years will be the ones that reflect and dare to experiment. ‘Companies that see hybrid working as an opportunity and listen to their employees.’
According to Ella, the image we have of work is outdated anyway. ‘For a while now it hasn’t been about managers keeping an eye on their employees in the workplace. Moreover, technology no longer has a supporting role, but rather plays the leading role.’ Her message: try to look at working in the office differently. ‘Instead of it being necessary, we can use it for social events, for example, or to come together for major decisions.’
The same goes for a lot of old habits. ‘Such as, for example, dress codes’, says Ella. ‘Hybrid working makes it more difficult for starters to assess, for example, what the etiquette is within the company. But you can also see this as an advantage: no one knows exactly what the rules are anymore!’ Her advice for starters is clear: ‘Shape the rules yourself, rather than just figuring out how it once was.’ So yes, hybrid working is complex, but above all an opportunity for a new generation to reshape work.
