Hybrid Work is a modern form of collaboration in which employees work partially in the office, partially from home, or remotely at an external location. Since the pandemic, hybrid work has become extremely popular as it offers companies the flexibility they currently need. With the rise of hybrid work, the need for efficient meeting room booking software has also increased, allowing organizations to manage their workspace effectively and facilitate seamless transitions between remote and in-office work environments.
Is Hybrid Work the Work Model of the Future?
However, the phenomenon of hybrid work is not new. Even before Corona, it became apparent that the desire for mobile-flexible collaboration was growing ever stronger – and playing an important role in the choice of employer. This is evidenced by a large-scale study conducted by the University of St. Gallen. Between 2016 and 2022, the team led by Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch surveyed over 93,000 employees in over 500 companies in the DACH region.
The results show that in 2021, 56% of employees already worked part-time from home – a trend that is increasing. Additionally, the desire for flexible work arrangements has continuously grown during this period. Especially in the younger generations X and Y, more than 80% aspire to modern and flexible scheduling options.
Hybrid Work is Here to Stay
The authors of the study do not see the pandemic as the trigger, but rather as a catalyst for a general shift towards “New Work” – a new form of flexible collaboration. This transformation is primarily driven by two megatrends: digital transformation and demographic change.
While digitization accelerates processes and makes hybrid work technically possible, demographic change brings about an increasing competition for young, well-educated professionals. And the demand of the younger generation is clear: work must become attractive and flexible. Not least for these reasons, the authors conclude: “Hybrid Work is not a transitional phenomenon but is here to stay.”
Models for Hybrid Work
Many companies are still undecided about how many days per week employees should spend in the office and how many in the home office. In practice, there are a variety of different models, which can be categorized into four types:
- Mostly Office: Home office is accepted only in exceptional cases, but the norm is for employees to work together in the office.
- Partially Flexible: Employees are allowed or encouraged to work from home on certain days of the week. These days can be freely chosen or synchronized across the entire company.
- Fully Flexible: Employees have complete freedom to decide whether to work in the office or from home on any given day of the week.
- Mostly Home Office: Employees only meet in the office for team collaboration or other specific occasions. The standard practice is working from home.
How can Unspot help organize hybrid work?
Unspot streamlines hybrid work organization by offering tools for efficient workspace management, scheduling, and collaboration. It enables employees to book desks and meeting rooms, coordinate schedules, and communicate effectively across remote and in-office teams. With Unspot, organizations can optimize space utilization, promote flexibility, and gather valuable data insights to continually improve their hybrid work strategies.