The reality that we have experienced during these last two years cannot be ignored. A reality that has affected all of us personally, but has also meant a point of no return in terms of traditional work models. New needs have arisen and have made hybrid work go from being something distant to being a reality for the majority of workers. And it is that, today, about 70% of professionals combine work between the office and home, and only 11 and 6% do it exclusively from the office and home, respectively. (HP study data on Hybrid Work).
The results of this report highlight an undeniable reality, and that is that companies around the world must adapt to current market requirements and new work models. Incorporate into your corporate culture that the hybrid work is here to stay And it’s not a passing fad. Companies must modulate these new work models taking into account the new rules established between company and employee, being aware of the advantages and opportunities offered by this new model.
There are still many challenges to overcome
Millions of people around the world have welcomed the advent of hybrid work. Two thirds of the companies consider that Your employees are more productive working under this modelwhile 89% believe that it represents an opportunity to reconcile and improve the well-being2 of all.
But among the most important challenges that still remain to be overcome are some inequalities in terms of inclusive work policies and culture, which we have worked so hard to achieve. Specifically, the younger profiles that participated in this study stated that they felt little protagonists within their hybrid work experience. Among those under the age of 30, one in six believe that their laptop is not fast enough or does not have the necessary technological features to participate efficiently in hybrid meetings. A third of those surveyed have shown on some occasion some “technological shame” when your team has unexpectedly interrupted a hybrid meeting.
Although the experience of young people with hybrid work seems to be the most polarized, they are not the only ones who have shown some reluctance. One in six overall hybrid workers (15%) globally, feel excluded in decision-making processes when they are not physically in the office4.
That is why, as responsible companies, they must ask themselves the following question: how can barriers be broken down and hybrid work efficiency sought for this group of workers, making it an efficient and inclusive model?
Key points to implement an efficient hybrid work model
For HP, the success of this model lies in the adoption of two fundamental aspects: Connection and Collaborationon which this new hybrid work culture must be based.
Facilitate a complete and real “Connection”
All workers need to be heard and understood correctly when interacting with their colleagues and their work in order to have good interactions. Yet two years after the advent of hybrid work, only 10 of the 90 million meeting rooms around the world are equipped with video conferencing facilities5 that enable 100% efficient connection.
That is why one in five workers (20%) believe that they cannot adequately follow what happens in hybrid meetings and that a third (37%) believe that it is easier for their ideas to be heard in person6. Companies must invest in order to have the right technology that allows employees to feel truly connected, wherever they are.
But we must not only focus on quality, but in the creation of opportunities to generate an effective connection. Of those who feel less productive in this hybrid work model, 45% believe that connecting with the right people has become a great challenge within this new work culture7.
The key is to ensure “Collaboration” in various environments
Collaboration has always been the fuel for driving innovation and business success. But in today’s hybrid work cultures, it is the tool that allows workers in a globalized world to work together on a common project or goal.
So companies have to start mechanisms that ensure collaboration remains at the heart of the hybrid work culture because right now two-thirds (63%) of global workers say they still find it easier to work with others in the office.
In this area, it is important to highlight the enormous value of collaboration, reserving key moments during the day or week in which environments that promote quality collaboration experiences are created. The study reveals that more than half of workers globally (56%) they believe that it is easier to interpret the non-verbal message that communicates when you are together in person. For this reason, it is essential that companies facilitate intuitive collaboration and be able to adapt to different work environments.
Right now, hybrid is a term that can symbolize the merging of the best to create something for positive change. As we move into an era where most workers work in different environments, we need to help millions of people adjust to this new reality. A fusion of the best of both models that is capable of building a future of work that represents new opportunities and values everyone’s time.
Inés Bermejo, CEO of HP Iberia.
