Why a digital HQ is critical for hybrid success
If you’re wondering whether employees are warming to the idea of returning to the office full-time, recent trends paint a compelling picture. Despite some companies pushing for a full-time return, many employees are opting for flexible arrangements, even when faced with potential career limitations.
This might seem surprising, but the data tells a clear story:
- Gallup reports over half of remote-capable employees expect and prefer hybrid work.
- Our own research found 54% of respondents agree that “going to the office feels like a waste of time.”
- These return to office (RTO) detractors in our study are against going back to in-person work for two big reasons: commuting feels like a waste of time and they prefer the flexibility of remote work.
Whether organizations see flexible work options as a positive or negative, there is evidence that hybrid work is good for company culture. The Gallup report also states that hybrid workers demonstrate higher engagement, better overall wellbeing, and lower turnover risk than fully on-site workers who are remote-capable.
This doesn’t mean that hybrid work isn’t without challenges, like difficulty separating work from home life, dealing with sub-par tech, and feeling disconnected from the company mission. The good news, according to Gallup, is that “hybrid workers feel much more strongly about the benefits of hybrid than they do the risks.”
The bad news? Disillusionment can easily take hold without a solid digital workplace strategy in place to keep engagement and culture thriving.
How traditional digital stack up
1. Communication
The Gallup research mentioned earlier also uncovered that the number one drawback for organizations when it comes to hybrid work is decreased communication. If information is power then having the right information – personalized and available in all the right moments – is truly transformative.
Information is often shared via in-person and all-hands meetings, bulletin board postings, and internal emails or newsletters. Typically everyone gets the same message, regardless of what job they do or what information they need or desire.
Many companies traditionally set up intranets in an effort to digitally centralize access to important information. These spaces can eventually become saturated with information, making them function more like hard-to-navigate digital filing cabinets.
A centralized digital workplace replaces one-size-fits-all comms with real-time updates, push notifications, and in-app newsfeeds, all in one place.
Personalization is a huge advantage here too. For example, Appspace can target specific segments of your workforce and customize content based on a person’s role, department, or individual preferences. This makes it easy for employees to cut through the noise and keep their comms timely and relevant.
2. Collaboration and teamwork
When we asked full-time employees working at companies that offer hybrid and fully remote options what draws them back into the office to work, a top-three answer was that the office environment fosters better collaboration.
Sure, sometimes there’s no substitute for in-person connection. But a centralized digital workplace offers lots of cool features that help people connect and get work done efficiently.
3. Company culture and engagement
Workplace friendships increase productivity and job satisfaction. It’s not hard to make the leap to why. When we know and like the people we work with, we’re more willing to help them out, communicate effectively, and ensure everyone has what they need to succeed. On paper, having everyone in an office together is the clear winner for fostering connection and friendship. But close physical proximity to colleagues can also lead to more work interruptions. This can negatively impact productivity, given that it takes around 23 minutes to get back on task after being interrupted. A centralized digital workplace offers lots of features employees can use to connect, celebrate one another, and form meaningful relationships. Bonus: everyone has the power to turn off notifications to support deep focus without time-sucking interruptions.4. Access to tools, resources and benefits
When there are too many potential paths to the tools and knowledge your teams need, inefficiencies can creep in. Connecting and automating workplace tools increases employee effectiveness across the board.Unite the physical and digital workspace
All signs continue to point to a future where employees have a strong appetite for remote and hybrid work options. This is great news for frontline workers too, because it means more organizations are dedicated to building work experiences that are friendlier and more accessible for all.
Appspace has a centralized digital workplace that democratizes access to information, resources, culture, and connection.
See how it works by checking out the free interactive demo.
