"The hybrid approach has been a benefit to us," says Rahul Singhai, senior analyst at a multi-national investment bank and financial services company, while on a 'workation' (work + holiday) with his pals in Udaipur. Singhai, like many other employees, has preferred a hybrid work arrangement since the epidemic, which allows him to work in the office, from home, or from anyplace. Companies, too, have been adjusting to contemporary work culture notions.
Employers considered strategies to draw the workforce back to workplaces after a protracted, pandemic-induced break in 2022, while employees continued to adjust to work-from-home and work-from-anywhere. Companies employed incentives including afternoon naps, wellness bonuses, and biannual assessments to entice employees to return to work. Many employees, however, appeared to favour the mixed work arrangement due to the freedom it provides.
According to a research released in May 2022 by SaaS startup WorkInSync, 54 percent of employees are considering resigning if they are not provided the flexibility of a mixed work environment.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently announced new work-from-home (WFH) guidelines for special economic zones (SEZs), under which a SEZ unit will not need to seek approval for WFH and there would be no limit to the amount of WFH that can be authorised. This service is accessible till the end of 2023.
"The hybrid work approach has radically revolutionised the way we work. "This pandemic-induced transformation provides for better flexibility and is a modern style of working," says Prashant Deshpande, Borosil Group's corporate head-HR
"I believe the hybrid model provides you the best of both worlds since it allows me to have a lot of family and personal time while also allowing me to experience the workplace culture," says Judith Pereira, a content writer for a beauty and cosmetic products firm.
Singhai, 23, and Pereira, 21, each started their first careers at their respective companies, which began as a completely remote opportunity. Both believe that a hybrid work model allows people to maintain a work-life balance while also being better for their mental and physical health. "The hybrid model is a blessing for me. It allows me to go to the gym on a regular basis, learn a new language, and remain mentally stable in addition to working," Pereira adds.
The hybrid work style has proven to be beneficial to both businesses and employees. Employees can save on travel time and commuting expenses, while businesses can save on office expenses and power bills, particularly in large cities. According to a September survey of large, mid-sized, and small Indian enterprises done by Colliers, hybrid working remains the most desired workspace option, with 63 percent of firms presently embracing it.
Why Go Hybrid?
The flexibility provided by hybrid employment is very appealing to employees. This appears to have resulted in a culture of mutual agreement between the employer and the employee regarding the assigned job to be done, regardless of where the tasks are completed. "With the hybrid approach, we don't have to spend 10 hours at the office. "We can execute our assigned work and be honest to it and to ourselves," Singhai says. "It's not like working from home means doing less work. We work with the same agility, but we also take care of our emotional and physical health."
A hybrid model allows employees to pursue other interests, such as content creation, learning new skills, or doing extra work (moonlighting) to make ends meet. It also allows employees to choose the days and times that work best for them to be at work, which is especially beneficial for women who may join international meetings and calls, which generally take place at night, from the comfort of their own homes.
"Thanks to the hybrid model, I have already taken a couple of workations-working and concurrently having a vacation, having a life, having the flexibility to go to locations with my friends. It's like rocking two worlds, in my opinion. I completed the deliverables and even went to a new location with a few of my buddies!" Singhai explains.
The Downside -
Employers may find it challenging to interact with employees when using a hybrid work paradigm, especially when much of this cooperation must take place over online video calling services. Working with this type of approach may encourage staff to be concerned about ensuring high-speed connectivity at all times and in all locations. Aside from that, the hybrid approach may result in speedier employee burnout, which may eventually lead to the quiet-quitting phenomena, in which employees cease putting in extra effort or taking initiative at work and instead simply do the work that is absolutely essential.
Furthermore, in industries such as health care, education, and nursing, a mixed work paradigm may be challenging to manage. "Despite all the benefits of this paradigm, one must remember that it is not a one-size-fits-all model of employment. It differs for different organisations and their people," Deshpande adds.
However, the hybrid work paradigm appears to be here to stay due to the flexibility and autonomy it provides individuals. Instead of returning to the work-from-home paradigm, "businesses should develop with the generation and adapt to the hybrid model," Singhai argues.
