Are you overlooking the employees who often work from home?

There are both pros and cons to having a hybrid workplace. On the one hand, it provides more freedom and flexibility for employees, but how does it affect workplace structures? That's what we've tried to explore here, along with advice on how to manage a hybrid workplace.

The recipe for the hybrid workplace

As most people are aware, the workplace is becoming more hybrid. This is happening after 2 years with corona, where we have really had the opportunity to try it out. In our recently published reportThe recipe for the hybrid workplace, we discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of having a hybrid workplace. But let's try to dive even deeper into them. Because how does it affect workplace structures?

How does your location affect the power structure in the workplace?

When we say location, it's about where the employee is located. Is it in the office or working from home? Whether you're in one place or the other, your location will influence your access to resources and your visibility to colleagues. Two things that undeniably have a big impact on the power structure that is created.

Employees located in the office have quick access to all things technology. They have access to lightning-fast internet, they can ask the person sitting next to them where that extremely important document is and pop into the IT department if something is not working. They also have easier access to information. They can quickly ask a colleague if they are unsure about something and they might overhear a conversation that turns out to have valuable information that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

On the other hand, those who work from home often have a poorer technical set-up. This means a slower internet connection, a worse monitor, a worse chair, etc. - all of which can make it harder to work as efficiently. They also miss out on informal conversations at the coffee machine and in the hallways, which means they are often the last to be updated on the little things in the workplace. This can make home workers feel isolated from the rest of the workplace and contribute to an unequal power structure

Visibility is key

Another downside of working from home is that it can be difficult to be seen by your managers. If you work in the same place as them, your work is more likely to be recognized. We all know the saying 'out of sight, out of mind', and this can be especially true for employees who work at home. The manager can't see that the employee is working and may wonder if anything is even being produced. As a result, managers may not have the home worker in mind when delegating new and exciting tasks.

Being able to navigate a hybrid workplace is a strength.

Not all employees can get used to the hybrid workplace. Being able to navigate between home and the office is a good skill to have and should therefore also be seen as a strength. Employees who are good at building relationships, both face-to-face and virtually, have a clear advantage in the hybrid workplace, and so do employees who are not afraid to reach out with questions and frustrations. An employee who has the ability to adapt to the hybrid workplace will therefore not necessarily suffer from the disadvantages of a poor set-up in the home office. Conversely, an employee with a good technical setup in the home office will not necessarily be effective in a hybrid setup ‍

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Good advice

So if you're managing a team that works both in the office and at home, here are 2 tips on how to manage a hybrid workplace.

‍Informyour employees about how the hybrid workplace can distort the power structure and the visibility of each employee.

Createan overview of who works where and when. Once you've done that, talk to each employee about what you can do to help them. And try to consider what effect the hybrid workplace has on their access to resources and visibility.