These past few years have allowed employers and employees to explore different work arrangements. Many companies have realized that the traditional office setting isn’t necessarily optimal after many businesses found success in fully remote setups. The workplace landscape is changing, and as the push for optimization continues, new arrangements will emerge. More businesses are trying to create the best possible solution, from traditional office setups to working from anywhere.
A hybrid workplace is an option that companies may see as a compromise between returning to the office and working from anywhere. The arrangement is supposed to be a win-win situation for both employees and employers. However, while some businesses have been able to embrace this model, many others are still struggling with it.
Here are ten reasons why employees may reject the hybrid workplace:
1. Changes To Work-Life Balance
Employees may find it difficult to adjust to the hybrid workplace’s changes in their daily routines. Working from different places can affect their work-life balance as they have to manage both in-office and remote tasks.
Supposedly, the hybrid workplace should provide more flexibility, but it can also lead to burnout for employees who are not used to this type of work arrangement.
Damayanti Dipayana
, CEO and Co-Founder of Manatee, emphasizes this:
“Yes, as a company you are ambitious. There are targets to hit and successes to be had. But not at all cost. This is a reminder for everyone going into the holidays and beyond.
Life happens. Family happens. And it has to come first.”
2. Stress Of Juggling Workspaces
The need to move between multiple workspaces can be stressful for employees. This especially applies when they need to switch between an office and a remote workspace within the same day.
Location is a significant factor in any work arrangement. For an office setup, there is an actual physical space where employees can work. When working from anywhere, employees can set up their workspaces.
Furthermore, constantly changing work locations can be jarring to employees accustomed to having a routine. With a hybrid workplace, employees will juggle both types of workspaces.
It’s a well-known that having a defined workplace or workstation can improve employee productivity. A dedicated location helps an employee get into the mindset for work, and also helps reduce distractions in the area. While there are benefits to changing work locations and being flexible, it’s possible to misinterpret what “flexibility” means with respect to work.
Jacob Morgan, author and keynote speaker, has something to say about this: “Workplace flexibility continues to be a priority for employees and a focus for organizations. But it doesn’t simply mean letting employees work from home. Flexibility refers to employees genuinely being able to pick when and where they work, whether it means coming into an office, working from home, going to a coffee shop or coworking facility, or going anywhere else where they can get their jobs done.”
3. Difficulty Adjusting
Even if employees are used to working remotely, adjusting to a hybrid workplace may still be challenging for some. They need to learn new ways of managing their time and responsibilities while getting used to a new environment.
Not everyone can easily adjust to changes. For some, it may be difficult to adapt. Adaptability is typically praiseworthy as a trait, but if a hybrid workplace is unnecessary, a company shouldn’t attempt to force it.
Yamini Rangan, Chief Executive Officer at HubSpot, shares: “Over the past few years, many of us have had to learn how to effectively lead hybrid teams. And I’ll be the first to say: It’s not easy. There’s no magic playbook for building high-performing teams in a hybrid world.”
4. Equipment Needs
Employees in a hybrid workplace need access to both office and remote equipment. Procuring equipment can be expensive, especially if employees don’t already have their own devices or need office software suites.
This factor is one of the biggest concerns for employees facing a hybrid workplace arrangement. However, companies that can provide their employees with company tools such as laptops and software subscriptions that they can use at both office and home can overcome this issue.
5. Collaboration Challenges
Collaborating with colleagues can become more of a challenge when some of them are working remotely. Meetings can become disjointed, and employees may find it hard to share documents or ideas.
Employees must be comfortable with online and face-to-face collaboration in a hybrid workplace.
6. Unclear Policies
Employees may feel frustrated if their employers’ policies on the hybrid workplace aren’t clear enough. They need to know when they need to work in the office and what to do when they’re working remotely.
Guidelines streamline the transition to a hybrid workplace and make it easier for everyone involved. Your company policies must be easily accessible and leave no room for misinterpretation.
We’ve written a comprehensive article about creating a policy for this arrangement. It would serve you well to read our piece entitled, “What is a Hybrid Work Policy and Why Does Every Company Need One?”
7. Lack Of Social Connection
The hybrid workplace model can be isolating for some employees, especially those who rely on the office atmosphere to feel connected with their colleagues. Working from home or in a remote location can make it hard to build relationships with others.
A lack of social connections can significantly harm a person’s mental health. As employers, it’s critical that you encourage your people to find places where they can connect to other people. Alternatively, a company can organize optional virtual team-building events to help foster team spirit and connection.
8. Fear Of Discrimination
The fear of discrimination may also be why many employees reject the hybrid workplace. They may feel that working from home or in different locations can lead to their seniors overlooking them for promotions or projects. In-office workers may be more memorable to managers due to their physical presence.
Discrimination has always been an issue in the workplace due to age, gender, origin, and other differences. Differences in remote and in-office are another variable that shouldn’t necessarily make a difference in an employee’s assessment. It’s up to employers to ensure that they treat and assess their employees fairly.
9. Difficulty Establishing Boundaries
Having the flexibility of working in both an office and remote environment can be confusing for some employees. Establishing a boundary between work and home can be challenging when the physical location for both is the same. It’s easier to delimit office space from home when an employee has to leave the office physically.
Employees who work overtime or have significant workloads are particularly prone to a lack of boundaries between their personal and work
time. Employers need to communicate the expectations of the hybrid workplace so that employees can set healthy work-life boundaries.
Instead of the location, Nicola Steel believes in focusing on the human aspect of managing employees. She says: “Rather than dictating to people where they should work, companies need to create a more human-centric approach to work which enables people to perform at their best whether it be at home or in the office. Senior leaders should enable managers to provide remote working guidance and communicate expectations around responsiveness and working hours so that employees remain productive.”
10. Fear Of Change
Change can be intimidating, and some employees may feel uncomfortable with the idea of a hybrid workplace. They may prefer to keep things the way they are. Employees may also find it difficult to adjust to this new model.
Work-from-anywhere appears to be one of the setups that are here to stay. Rowena Hennigan, startup advisor and professor, shares, “If you think that employees today are happy with just a stable contract, a good salary and a nice, modern office, well… think again. Work-from-anywhere is not just a temporary trend.”
There’s a reason why tried-and-tested work setups have lasted for a long time. Employees may be hesitant to try something different. Experimentation and trials are essential to improving the workplace, but it’s not something that employers should attempt without careful planning and consideration. Work is the livelihood of employers and employees alike, and we should therefore take it seriously.
To Wrap Up
The hybrid workplace model is an interesting proposition, but it’s not for everyone. Employees may have their reasons for rejecting this new way of working. So, employers need to account for their employee’s feelings and opinions when considering a transition to a hybrid workplace. Doing so will ensure that employees are comfortable, productive and motivated in the new setup.
So, is the hybrid workplace here to stay? If you want to learn more, check out our piece, “Hybrid Working: The Future or a Temporary Fix?”
Related Questions
1. What are the advantages of working from anywhere?
As the name suggests, working from anywhere lets you choose your workplace. That means you can find a coffee shop, park, or other places where you are most productive. You can learn more by reading our article, “10 Benefits of Working from Anywhere.”
2. What are the advantages of returning to an office setup?
One of the most significant advantages of this setup is having easy access to your company’s resources and technology. Each business uses some form of gadget, equipment, or software. Technology now allows everyone to access those tools outside the office. To learn more, check out our piece, “10 Benefits of Returning to Office.”
