The Hybrid Office 101

The next normal will require some changes in the work structure as well as in employeremployee relationship. Here are a few must-do’s

- Marife Zamora

The universe of work is changing. According to a McKinsey survey, organisations will be combining remote and on-site working. Working in the office is traditional; working remotely is the new way. And this arrangement is here to stay, whether we like it or not.

The pandemic forced companies to shut their offices and let employees work from home—often with a laptop and a prayer. For the first time, Covid-19 has elevated the importance of the physical dimension of work. Business leaders worried that productivity might take a dive. Would remote workers become too allured by Netflix or too preoccupied by housework to get much office work done?

Surprisingly, in some organisations, just the opposite occurred: productivity went up after allowing employees to work from home (WFH). Moreover, working remotely has its advantages—such as commute times vanish, operational costs are reduced, absenteeism is diminished, among others.