At its peak, the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped much of how we conducted our daily lives, and whilst many of those concessions have since been confined to the depths of our memories, some, like the way in which we now work, still linger on.

Many of us more ‘seasoned’ professionals have only ever really known the office-based 9-5(ish) life, so when the pandemic hit, conducting our everyday lives via MSTeams, Zoom, or similar proved to be a bit of an abrupt transition.

Equally, there were many youngsters who had to start their careers remotely – searching for work, interviewing, then being inducted virtually, being more or less deprived of a traditional office setting.

But as time moved on, and we all learned to adapt, and the prospect of remote working became something we embraced, rather than simply put-up with. Fast forward four years, and there is now a general expectation amongst many that a hybrid working pattern should be offered as standard, and that not providing such a benefit could be detrimental to those businesses looking to recruit the best candidates.

Whether or not remote or hybrid working is appropriate for all sectors is certainly an argument that will rumble on, and on. But for us here at WorkPR, we have always shied away from what is conventional, so it will come as no surprise that we’ve embraced this more flexible approach to working wholeheartedly – be that from home, the office, another country, or part-time.

Here’s why we would recommend it;

Choice

Hybrid working offers the benefits of both worlds, allowing us uninterrupted focus on individual projects at home, AND the opportunity to collaborate in-person at the office, which is helpful for wider project work or campaigns. This approach creates a flexible and balanced work environment, accommodating diverse work styles and optimising productivity.

When it comes to workplace structures, extremes like being fully remote or always being in the office can pose communication challenges. Teams that solely communicate through screens will undoubtedly miss out on the benefits of face-to-face interactions, such as idea-sharing or relationship-building. However, offices can be filled with multiple distractions like chatty coworkers, constantly ringing phones, doors slamming or impromptu meetings.

By adopting a hybrid system, you are basically communicating an understanding that in business, no day, or person is the ever same. That the workload, personal preference, or circumstantial needs of any individual can impact what is best on any given day, and sometimes, you have to just go with the flow.

Flexibility

Hybrid work is about more than just where we work; it’s about how we work. It provides the team with more freedom to choose their work location based on their personal preference, time constraints, workload, and their personal commitments.

The freedom to walk the dog, manage personal errands, be a more present parent, and generally have a bit of quiet or head space is something we can all benefit from.

By cutting down on the time and costs related to commuting, our team can devote more of their day to spending time with friends, family, and personal interests without the professional guilt, leading to a better work/life balance, and a more settled and satisfied workforce.

Culture

Navigating a job remotely can be an isolating experience, particularly for new recruits lacking prior office experience. However, the importance of an office setting goes beyond conventional work etiquette. It’s about culture — the invisible glue that binds a team together.

As a ‘full-service’ agency, we are all about ‘team’. What I do impacts directly on the capacity within the wider business, and visa versa. Cross-selling services, or making our output work harder on behalf of our clients takes communication, and the ability to work seamlessly alongside each other. Whilst some of this can be done remotely, its often the times when we can sit opposite each other in a room and thrash out ideas that are the most creative, and relationship-building.

The value of face-to-face interactions, collaborative work, and learning by observing others in the team cannot be underestimated. As remote work becomes more widespread, the challenge will be to maintain this culture and camaraderie despite physical distance, and that is where the hybrid model can be really effective. We come together to plan, share, and create, then go to back to our own spaces, to get our heads down and deliver the goods!

Happiness

Besides offering flexibility and fostering culture, a hybrid work model also considers the mental wellbeing of employees. The pressure to always be physically present, when perhaps your mind is elsewhere dealing with challenges at home, simply perpetuates the damaging narrative that work should be the most important thing in a person’s life. It’s important, yes. Necessary, absolutely. But it is not the be-all and end-all, and we all need balance in our personal and professional lives in order to protect our mental health.

Isolation is a challenge, of course. Indeed, how do you spot the signs that someone in the team is struggling, if you only see a glimpse of them on a Teams meeting? But by fostering an open, honest and flexible working environment, no one should ever feel alone, even if they need their own space to navigate their personal journey.

We are always conscious to emphasise this as a management team, and are vocal in our assurance that the lines of communication remain open at all times. We are ready to support however possible, even if these conversations cannot, for whatever reason, be conducted in person.

We understand that a content team is also far more likely to be a productive team. By enabling individuals to work when they are most productive and to their abilities, a hybrid approach can increase productivity and output quality.

Recruitment

Happy people undoubtedly make the workplace a better place to be, which is essential for in drawing in fresh talent.

Offering flexible work arrangements can help to attract and retain the best employees in an increasingly competitive market, which is a constant problem in recruitment and retention.

This doesn’t just mean hybrid or remote working options, but also flexible hours or days. Our staff turnover, for example, is incredibly low, and that is because we operate in a culture of understanding.

Whether it’s time for childcare, sports days, or nativities, hospital appointments, celebrating Birthdays, mental health breaks, or space to care for family members (and in one case, even supporting a colleague’s full-time relocation abroad, where she still works remotely) – flexibility, and an understanding of the team’s personal circumstances, is at the heart of our business.

Ever heard of the saying “I’ll scratch your back, and you scratch mine”? Well, the benefits of hybrid working are a great example. What is good for the individual is good for the business. And if a business is doing well, then the team will benefit too. It’s self-perpetuating.

Success and satisfaction needn’t be exclusive – we all have something to gain from maintaining a happy equilibrium.