Combine the benefits of working at home and at the office

Many office workers prefer a combination of working from home and working at the office. In other words, hybrid working. This can be done in various forms. Which form suits your company depends on available workplaces, employee needs, but also the interests of the team and the business. By talking to your employees and familiarising yourself with the various hybrid working forms, you can make working arrangements and adapt the working environment to the needs of your employees.

4 ways to hybrid working

These are 4 options for hybrid working that you can apply to your business:

1. Everyone comes to the office at the same time, but not all the time. This is clear, but does not take personal wishes into account.

2. Half of the staff is always in the office, but they take it in turns. This ensures order, but can be bad for team building.

3. People come to the office when their work requires it. This is flexible, but only works when you make clear agreements.

4. People come to the office based on their position or team. This is clear, but can cause inequality.

The benefits of working from home 

The productivity of working from home is due to the following factors:

A comfortable home office 

A large number of the home workers say they can concentrate better in their home office. They can organise the space themselves and are less easily distracted.

Flexible working hours 

Home workers also say they can work better thanks to the flexible working hours. Now, they can work when and where their biological rhythm and personal situation allow. And it allows them to go out for a walk or a dentist’s appointment. They work more at times that suit them, and therefore they get more work done. 

Better work-life balance 

Working from home can also improve your work-life balance.  Home workers can, for example, sleep an hour longer due to the lack of travel time or spend more time with their children. The time saved makes for both mentally and physically fitter staff. Some home workers say the lack of travel time makes them more productive.

Reduced carbon emissions and travel costs 

Working from home cuts down on commuting and therefore carbon emissions. Besides, the employer will have to pay less travel expenses. Read more about sustainable commuting.

 

The benefits of working from the office 

Some people work better in an office. There could be multiple reasons for this. 

More guidance 

According to a survey, younger workers in particular are more productive in the office. This has to do with getting more guidance in a physical environment, as it is easier to ask colleagues for help. 

Better work-life balance 

Working from home can also have a negative effect on your work-life balance. Employees with children or people who do not have a separate workplace at home, for example, might find it easier to concentrate in an office. On top of that, keeping work and their private life separate may be easier for them when they work in the office. 

Create a sense of ‘home’ at the office 

If you want to encourage employees to come to the office more, make the office more attractive. Here are 3 possible modifications:

Create more concentration zones 

Create smaller workspaces and, if possible, some individual focus areas. For businesses that are short on space, soundproof cabins can be a good solution. 

Stick to flexible working 

Give employees flexible working hours, even on office days. Consider extending office hours so that employees who want to start earlier or later can do so. Then, if their work permits, let them flexibly decide their own working hours. Most people are less productive with fixed work and break times. 

Change the rules on travel time 

On office days, offer your employees the opportunity to work during their commute and count it as work time. You could encourage employees to take public transport. A laptop and internet hotspot on the train will get you a long way. 

Offer home workers the benefits of the office 

Employers can also make working at home more comfortable for employees. 

Consultation hours 

Employees working from home are less likely to tap a colleague on the shoulder to ask a quick question. Employees working from home are less likely to tap a colleague on the shoulder to ask a quick question. Employers or managers can schedule a daily start with the team to go over the schedule together and discuss questions.

Accessing systems 

Make sure your employees have access to all systems at home or buy software that makes working from home easier. With the  tax relief for remote working expenses  employers can reimburse employees for expenses tax-free. 

Laws and regulations 

Note: If an employee asks you to change their working hours or workplace, you are required by law to at least explore the options, unless a business or service interest is at stake. This is laid down in the Flexible Working Act (in Dutch). 

Moreover, employers are barred from monitoring staff productivity under the privacy act (in Dutch).  So, it is not allowed to measure the number of emails sent, planned consultations, or time spent online. There is software available for this, but to use it, the employer must demonstrate why the interests of the company outweigh the privacy of the employee.