Best Practice: How to Manage a Hybrid Workforce | Remote Work

Best Practice: How to Manage a Hybrid Workforce | Remote Work

2020 has seen changes to the world of work.  A significant number of employees have shifted from working 100 percent in an office to a fully remote working model. Hybrid work models are on the rise.

However, many team leaders face the challenge of how to manage a hybrid workforce and how to make every team member feel included, no matter where they work.

Let’s find out how you can succeed with a hybrid team and how YOU can ensure your employees wellbeing.

Do you want to find out how to set up a workplace for remote, co-located and hybrid employees? Check out this article.

#1 Treat Everyone Equally

Scheduling a team meeting in a meeting room leads to team members talking before the meeting even begins. This leads to valuable information being shared that others may miss if they are not present. This can quickly lead to a situation where remote employees feel excluded from important conversations.

To avoid such a situation, have each team member participate from their desk and don’t gather all employees in one meeting room. Of course, this is most feasible if employees have their own office to themselves. However, this reduces the risk of valuable information being shared before remote team members have dialled in.

#2 Implement Digital Tools to Enhance Team Dynamics

Digital tools offer a great opportunity to improve communication. They bring together team members who don’t often see each other face-to-face. Expand your communication platforms from just email to include more digital software like Teams or Webex. Schedule regular coffee meetings with the team to mimic the conversations that naturally take place in a shared location. Teams additionally offers a variety of apps that help your team work more efficiently, but also foster team spirit, such as approvals, employee ideas, or praise.

#3 Adjust Company Rules to Remote Work Settings

In the early months of 2020, as hybrid work models were implemented en masse, employers focused on mental health, the importance of work-family separation, and connection. This should not stop once the pandemic is over.

The risk of burnout and other potential costs are high when working from home. Therefore, don’t stop to review your company policies. Make sure your company supports a healthy and compassionate culture where employees can grow and deliver the best possible work results.

#4 Hybrid Work Calls for Flexibility

Gone is the days when employees seek to work a 9-to-5 job without the flexibility to attend doctor’s appointments or pick up their children. See if your team members need to be available at certain times or if they can have some flexibility in scheduling their hours. Some customer service reps may need to work 9 to 5.  However, maybe other office staff can be a little more flexible. Just make sure you know when which employees work and that employees who need to work together have overlapping schedules.

#5 Define Clear Rules

To manage hybrid workforce effectively, you must have a defined structure and clear rules in place. Make sure all information is easily accessible for employees. That allows them to review it on their own to avoid asking the same questions over and over again. Write down which meetings need to be face-to-face, how to communicate absences or where to check on what days a certain employee works remotely.