5 Pillars of a Successful Hybrid Workforce

Hybrid work looks set to be a permanent fixture in post-COVID economies around the world. With this in mind, it’s a good time for HR leaders to rethink how they can cultivate a secure, productive and successful workforce. Rather than business as usual, a new way of working requires a new approach.

But what should you be striving for? The following five pillars constitute a solid foundation for companies looking to build a hybrid workforce that works. 

Lead with empathy

Company culture can be the first thing to suffer when an organisation shifts online. If organisations aren’t careful, less face-to-face interaction can mean less solidarity and weaker connections between colleagues. But that doesn’t have to be the case. 

To reinforce company culture and build it into hybrid work environments, managers should be encouraged to connect with their teams through regular check-ins. These can be done virtually or in-person, but the key is to establish a connection beyond simply day-to-day work. Managers should be asking how hybrid working affects them as they establish new routines. Identify challenges, work together to find solutions, and above all, be human.

Companies can also access technology to gauge employee sentiment, giving them a platform to voice their opinions. Such employee feedback can provide actionable insights to help employers meet their employees’ needs.

Communicate efficiently

Communication is key to fostering transparency, inclusivity and accountability. With all the uncertainty that a remote or hybrid work environment can bring, open communication is a sure way to give employees a strong sense of direction.

Ensure that departmental and company-wide communications are disseminated efficiently so everyone is on the same page regarding hybrid work practices and return-to-work policies.

Having the technology to power this level of communication is important. Accessible group channels and dashboards help keep teams up to date. Additional functions like chat and integrated video conferencing solutions make it easy for teams to communicate and collaborate. 

Read more: How Technology Can Help You Overcome Hybrid Work Challenges

Plan with visibility

With resources and staff spread across various locations, managing a hybrid workforce can be a logistical nightmare. But hybrid work can provide great opportunities for companies to downsize or make better use of their office footprint. 

Having real-time visibility of the resources, office capacity, asset tracking and staff scheduling that keeps your organisation running smoothly is an advantage. It can help you plan and manage office capacity by letting you know who is working in the office and when. 

ELMO Hybrid Work is the ideal tool to manage capacity restrictions (including sq. metre requirements to keep employees safe) and make scheduling easy for teams across an organisation.

Empower your people

It’s important to ensure your people are engaged and feel empowered. With record numbers of employees reporting wellbeing issues such as burnout, it’s clear that HR leaders need to provide resources and support for remote employees. The right online tools can make sure these resources are available to employees who want to access them confidentially.  

Working remotely can cause a feeling of stagnation, so don’t overlook employee training and upskilling. Virtual training programs can help employers feel engaged and challenged, and can empower them with skills that will benefit their career. Efficient online learning is also crucial for onboarding new employees and equipping them with the tools to work confidently.

 Leverage technology

Technology is the most important of the five pillars, and the key to unlocking the full potential of a hybrid workforce. The right tech solution can help you lead, communicate, plan and empower in unprecedented ways. But without the right tools in your arsenal, you may end up with an isolated, exhausted and demotivated workforce.

ELMO Solutions can help you lead with empathy (see our Survey solution), communicate efficiently (Connect), plan with visibility (Hybrid Work, Self-Service), and empower people (Wellbeing, Onboarding, Learning Management Software (LMS)). These are just some of the many tools that can help you take full advantage of the flexibility of hybrid work and as a result, improve employee engagement and productivity. 

A hybrid work culture means that most, if not all, aspects of HR management will move into the virtual space, and so people leaders must adapt quickly to keep pace. Organisations should consider which hybrid model works best for them, and the above five pillars are a great place to start. 

ELMO Software  is a cloud-based solution that helps thousands of organisations across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to effectively manage their people, process and pay. ELMO solutions span the entire employee lifecycle from ‘hire to retire’. They can be used together or stand-alone, and are configurable according to an organisation’s unique processes and workflows. Automate and streamline your operations to reduce costs, increase efficiency and bolster productivity. For further information, contact us.