As organizations embrace the hybrid work model, combining remote and in-person work arrangements, they encounter a multitude of challenges. From the intricacies of activity-based working to the intricacies of hybrid meetings and managing hybrid teams, the landscape of hybrid workplaces is rife with obstacles. In this blog post, we delve into the major problems and challenges of hybrid workplaces, shedding light on the critical issues that organizations must address for a successful implementation.
One of the primary challenges lies in effectively implementing activity-based working, where employees have the freedom to choose different workspaces based on their tasks and preferences. Balancing workspace availability, creating an inclusive environment, and fostering collaboration amidst a mix of remote and in-office employees become key concerns.
Hybrid meetings, too, present their own set of hurdles. Ensuring equitable participation, maintaining engagement, and overcoming technical difficulties require careful consideration and effective strategies.
Managing hybrid teams poses yet another challenge, encompassing communication gaps, fostering team cohesion, and ensuring equal opportunities for growth and development.
By exploring these challenges, this blog aims to equip organizations with valuable insights and practical solutions to navigate the complexities of the hybrid workplace, facilitating successful adaptation and empowering teams to thrive in this dynamic work environment.
13 major issues with hybrid workplaces
1. Cybersecurity threats
Companies could face cybersecurity vulnerabilities from employees who are working from remote locations using their own devices. Hybrid employees using their own systems are often outside common network and security protocols. Any security lapse might result in financial liability, loss of credibility and lawsuits.
2. Leadership deficiencies
Manages who were managing their teams in-office were suddenly forced to manage remote teams. Remote work brings out leadership deficiencies. Managing a hybrid team requires a different skill set that can only be mastered over a period of time.
3. Management issues
It is quite natural that in-office employees who are more visible are often recognized much more than remote employees who are working from elsewhere. When it comes to appreciations, rewards, promotions etc remote employees don’t get a level playing field, which may affect their performance and productivity.
4. Employees’ disconnection
There is a possibility of remote employees becoming isolated and feeling disconnected from the company as they don’t get to meet their managers or colleagues often. A survey on workplace rapport says that 69% of remote employees “don’t feel a very strong sense of connection” to their co-workers.
5. Digital divide
When the entire world went into a sudden lockdown, many employees were forced to use digital communication and collaboration tools with which some of the employees were not familiar. Some non-IT and senior employees were digitally under-trained to manage large teams only through virtual meetings.
6. More challenges for women
In the hybrid work model, women are getting bogged down by a higher share of domestic chores and responsibilities. Even when both partners are working from home, a majority share of domestic responsibilities is handled by women. According to McKinsey estimates, women were spending an estimated 30% more time on domestic work during the pandemic. Working remotely, women had to manage both household and official responsibilities at the same time.
7. Challenges for new joiners
Onboarding and training new joiners are a major challenge when employees join the organization from remote locations. Adapting to an organization’s culture is also a major challenge for them due to a lack of in-person interaction with senior colleagues and managers.
8. Seamless connectivity
One of the biggest challenges of working remotely is to stay connected with those in and out of the office. Seamless connectivity is a must for everyone to communicate quickly and efficiently. You need modern tools like audio/video calling, screen sharing, group chat etc. Companies should encourage their employees to upgrade their network and invest in communication and collaboration tools like Clariti.
9. Transparency
Transparent communication is crucial to erase barriers between in-office and remote workers. The absence of honest and open communication will impact employee morale negatively. A survey reveals that 60% of remote workers don’t get important information because it was only discussed in person.
10. Burnout
The biggest setback for the hybrid work model is the lack of separation between work and private life. One study found that more than 7 in 10 professionals today are suffering from burnout. Another study found that as new assignments and additional responsibilities piled up, 1 in 4 employees saw their stress levels skyrocket and felt the tendency to burn out.
11. Monitoring employees
Whenever a phone call, text or email is not answered immediately by a remote employee, it raises suspicion if the employee is really working. During this pandemic, some companies started using surveillance tools to closely monitor the activities of the remote workforce. Gartner predicts that about 75% of conversations at the office may be recorded by 2025. This lack of trust results in resentment from remote employees and studies are showing that one in four people will be looking for a new job.
12. Compensation issues
Some companies are paying the same salary for their remote and in-office workers, though the cost of living and expenses are not the same for both. Employees working from remote locations incur more expenses than their counterparts who commute to the office as they may have to incur extra costs to maintain a home office with the requisite technology.
13. Employee's wellness
A study revealed that only a very few remote employees took sick leave and 29% of employees stated that they had worked through illness. Companies must make sure that their remote employees are encouraged to take sick leave when needed.
How Clariti helps to overcome major problems with hybrid workplaces
Centralized platform
Clariti facilitates activity-based working by providing a centralized platform where remote and in-office employees can collaborate seamlessly. It offers real-time communication, overcoming the challenges associated with activity-based working.
Hybrid Working
Clariti addresses the problems with hybrid working by integrating email and chat, ensuring that remote and in-office employees can communicate effectively. It eliminates the need for endless email chains and messy chats, promoting efficient and streamlined communication in a hybrid work environment.
Hybrid Meetings
Clariti simplifies hybrid meetings by offering integrated audio-conferencing capabilities. It enables remote and in-office participants to connect seamlessly, overcome communication gaps, and ensure everyone is actively engaged, thereby addressing the problems with hybrid meetings.
Managing Hybrid Teams
Clariti aids in managing hybrid teams by providing tools for collaboration like voice calling, file sharing, scree sharing, event scheduling, integration with other productivity tools through Zapier, etc.
Hybrid Work Challenges
Clariti helps overcome the challenges of a hybrid workplace by providing features like contextual conversations, conversation sharing, and efficient search capabilities. It ensures that information is easily accessible, fosters collaboration, and promotes productivity in a hybrid work setting.
Seamless Communication
Clariti ensures seamless communication in hybrid workplaces by integrating email and chat, allowing for quick and efficient exchange of information. It eliminates the need to switch between multiple platforms, reducing communication barriers and improving overall connectivity.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Clariti promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing in hybrid workplaces by providing shared workspaces, document collaboration, and conversation context. It allows teams to work together, share ideas, and access relevant information easily, overcoming the challenges of hybrid work.
Enhanced Productivity
Clariti’s streamlined communication, collaboration tools, and centralized platform contribute to enhanced productivity in hybrid workplaces. By providing a cohesive work environment, it helps individuals and teams stay focused, manage tasks efficiently, and achieve their goals effectively.
Contextual Conversation History
Clariti provides a comprehensive conversation history that includes both email and chat messages. This feature helps address the challenges of hybrid work by allowing team members to refer back to previous discussions, ensuring continuity and understanding of project context.
Document and File Sharing
Clariti facilitates easy document and file sharing among team members, eliminating the challenges of accessing and collaborating on files in a hybrid work environment.
Remote Access and Security
Clariti, being hosted on Amazon Web Services, ensures secure remote access to the platform for hybrid work scenarios. It employs robust security measures to protect sensitive data, addressing the challenges of data security and remote access in a hybrid workplace.
Conclusion
In the realm of hybrid workplaces, numerous challenges arise, encompassing activity-based working, hybrid working, hybrid meetings, managing hybrid teams, and the overall dynamics of a hybrid workplace. Understanding and addressing the challenges of managing hybrid teams is crucial for organizations seeking to optimize productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being.
Navigating the problems with activity-based working involves careful planning and resource allocation to provide diverse and inclusive workspaces while fostering a sense of belonging among remote and in-person employees. Similarly, mitigating the challenges of hybrid work requires establishing clear communication channels, leveraging technology, and promoting work-life balance to ensure a harmonious work environment.
Hybrid meetings demand strategies to foster engagement, equal participation, and seamless technology integration, promoting effective collaboration across remote and in-office participants. Managing hybrid teams necessitates effective communication, building trust, and providing equal opportunities for growth and development to ensure team cohesion and success.
By proactively addressing these challenges and implementing suitable solutions, organizations can unlock the full potential of hybrid work models, nurturing a productive, collaborative, and resilient workforce. Embracing the opportunities and overcoming the obstacles, organizations can forge a path towards a thriving hybrid workplace, reaping the benefits of flexibility, innovation, and employee satisfaction.
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