A report from business-geared electronics company Poly, ‘Hybrid Working: Creating the “next normal” in work practices, spaces and culture,’ reveals a shift in how the workplace is perceived and how its purpose, rather than place, is the focus.
According to the report, home offices and virtual meetups will be some of the defining factors of the future of work as companies embrace remote and hybrid working arrangements.
The research found hybrid work arrangements will focus on a few key components, including flexibility in where and when employees work, focusing on results rather than total hours worked, and how companies can invest into tools that enable a remote collaboration.
“Today, few can claim that the technology is a barrier to changing practices, but the lockdown has highlighted the need for investment into the cultural and behavioral components of flexible work,” said Tom Cheesewright, applied futurist and contributor to the Poly report. “The future is a flexible working environment that caters to the needs of all employees, giving them the most fulfilling work experience and in return allowing them to maximise the value they return to the organisation.”
Sarah Susanka, an architect and another contributor to the report, added how to create a fully-equipped remote office environment to maintain productivity. This includes including home office ergonomic furniture, as well as investing into coworking spaces outside of major cities.
