Optimizing the Hybrid Work Landscape for Tasks to Do at Home

• Today’s management has the task of deciphering how best to optimize productivity in a hybrid work setting by designating the ideal tasks for employees to undertake at home and what tasks require their presence in the office. 
• Office presence should be for a compelling purpose that surpasses the notable expenses, in terms of time, finances, and stress associated with commuting. 
• For those workers lacking a quiet, comfortable home office, employers should offer alternative workspaces, either in company-owned offices or coworking spaces. 

A recent exploration conducted by the University of Birmingham reveals an upbeat perspective amongst management toward hybrid work efficiency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In a study of 597 managers, 51.8% concurred that home-based work enhances employee focus, 59.5% confirmed it heightens productivity, and 62.8% endorsed it amplifies motivation. A staggering 76.5% of managers firmly believe that flexible work arrangements invariably escalate productivity. The study uncovers that line managers (71.2%) are more likely to see flexible work as an instrument to bolster performance, compared to their senior management counterparts (65.6%), underscoring the importance of enlightening the latter about the merits of flexible work and its beneficial influence on employee output.  

Today’s management has the task of deciphering how best to optimize productivity in a hybrid work setting by designating the ideal tasks for employees to undertake at home and what tasks require their presence in the office. Given that roughly 75% of US companies are transitioning toward a hybrid work model, fine-tuning this blend of employee tasks is imperative to the success of individual organizations, and by extension, the US economy. So, what is the blueprint for assigning tasks to hybrid workers for home-based work? 

Some suggest the approach should be straightforward: entrust the decision to the employees themselves and their immediate superiors. However, my expertise, having assisted 21 organizations in setting up successful hybrid work models and authoring a best-seller on the subject, shows that workers frequently struggle to maximize their output. 

The problem does not lie in an absence of effort or purposeful inefficiency. Instead, many employees are unacquainted with the techniques for successful hybrid work, unaware of their knowledge gaps. With insufficient guidance and professional development, lower-tier supervisors and middle managers often resort to conventional office-based work methods in hybrid settings.  

The consequence? Dipping productivity, dwindling engagement, morale erosion, and damage to the company’s profits as well as employee well-being and career growth. 

The Dark Side of Office Attendance 

A key determinant for task allocation is the drive to maximize productivity by minimizing commute time. Office presence should be for a compelling purpose that surpasses the notable expenses, in terms of time, finances, and stress associated with commuting. 

A Hubble survey demonstrated that 79% of participants enjoyed the absence of commuting, making it the top-rated advantage of working from home. A Zebra survey revealed that 35% of Americans would willingly accept a salary reduction for a shortened commute. Among those willing to take a pay cut, 89% would give up to 20% of their salary.  

Americans invest substantial time commuting, as evidenced by 2019 U.S. Census data. Approximately 10% of Americans commute over an hour each way, primarily those residing in densely populated urban areas, with the average American commuting half an hour each way. 

Additionally, commuting incurs significant expenses. Based on a Flexjobs analysis, employees can save up to $12,000 annually by working remotely full-time. Savings span transport-related expenses like fuel, vehicle upkeep, parking, as well as costs associated with professional attire and dining at pricey eateries. Despite potential increases in home-based expenses like utility bills and home-cooked meals, these expenditures are generally less than commuting costs. 

Peer-reviewed research illustrates that longer commute times are associated with reduced job satisfaction, increased stress, and deteriorated mental health. Studies by the University of Warwick and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School reveal that happy employees are more productive, showing a productivity surge of around 12-13%. Furthermore, University of Chicago research found that home-based workers dedicate about a third of the time saved from commuting to their primary jobs. 

So, What Tasks Should Home-Based Hybrid Employees Undertake to Elevate Hybrid Work Efficiency? 

The reality is that most employee tasks are more efficiently executed from home, even disregarding the commuting aspect. For example, a significant portion of individual employee tasks involve focused activities executed solo. Research indicates that employees are more concentrated when working from home, free from office distractions. 

Another considerable chunk of employee time is consumed by asynchronous collaboration and communication, including activities like emailing, editing shared documents, or virtual asynchronous brainstorming. A McKinsey report reveals that email alone occupies an average of 28% of a knowledge worker’s time. There is no rationale to endure a commute for tasks that can be executed remotely. 

A third key activity better done from home is virtual meetings. In a survey by Slack, employees reported spending two hours per day in meetings. Stuart Templeton, the UK head of Slack, warned employers of turning their offices into “productivity killers” by requiring staff to commute for video calls. He stated that commuting two hours for video calls was a poor use of office space. 

However, for those workers lacking a quiet, comfortable home office, employers should offer alternative workspaces, either in company-owned offices or coworking spaces. Nevertheless, the majority of employees favor performing such tasks at home.

In Conclusion 

The commute infringes upon employee happiness, subsequently affecting productivity. Interestingly, employees willingly invest a substantial portion of time saved from commuting into their primary work. Therefore, to enhance hybrid work productivity, any office-centric tasks must justify the considerable burden of commuting. Most tasks undertaken by hybrid employees, such as focused individual work, asynchronous communication, and video meetings, are more effectively done from home. This suggests that the majority of hybrid employees should predominantly work remotely.