Obviously, the idea of a hybrid work schedule is a hot topic right now, as many companies have begun the transition back into an on-site work environment. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, as the pandemic is (hopefully) nearing an end. But is this so called “New Normal ” here to stay?
In order to recover from lockdowns of the pandemic and maintain a certain level of safety, many companies have adopted a hybrid work schedule, where employees work part-time on-site and part-time from home. Sure, there are some companies that have yet to return to their office completely and are still conducting business fully remotely, but on the flip side, there are a handful of companies that had difficulty doing that and struggle to operate in a fully remote work environment. That being said, it really depends on the type of business and what each individual company/employee is comfortable with. Some will even argue that employees are more productive. It has been reported that in some instances working from home offers a more relaxed working conditions, a quieter work environment, or because their schedule is more flexible and that it enables better work-life balance and higher job satisfaction.
Here at AMCF, we have adopted the hybrid work schedule where we are on-site three days a week and two days a week we work remotely. There is more to a hybrid work schedule than just safety, however, as there is a lot of research that shows employees prefer working at least part-time out of office. Harvard Business Review claims that 81% of employees either do not want to return to the office or prefer a hybrid work schedule and about 98% of all meetings have at least one remote participant. There is clearly a demand for some mixed work experience as the majority are in favor of not working 40 hours per week in an office environment. In addition to that, and from a more personal standpoint, I just graduated from American University back in May of this year and this is my first full-time job post college. So, for myself and others like me that graduated in the Class of 2021, the hybrid work schedule has been a great way for me to get familiar and adjust to a professional work environment without the pressure of jumping right in and committing to be in an office Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. The flexibility of my work schedule has definitely helped with the transition of college student to full-time employee as I see the value of a hybrid work schedule. In the end, I welcome your comments and perspective on the hybrid work schedule. Is it the new normal for you?
Jason Kawa, IT Systems Analyst
August 10, 2021
