Indeed, today’s job market is far different from just a few years ago. The Great Resignation of 2021 has seen employees leaving jobs in record numbers — particularly in the tech sector. Why? Because now people are more aware of the importance of work/life balance and are selecting companies with much more care than they would have done only five or ten years ago.
Companies who want to stay competitive need to offer the right kind of work environment for their staff — increasingly, this is one that provides both on-site and remote options, so people aren’t forced to be somewhere at any given time. That way, you can attract top talent without having them leave after six months because your company culture doesn’t suit them anymore.
What is a hybrid workforce?
Well, to start with, the hybrid workforce is not new, but it’s undoubtedly become far more popular in the last few years. The hybrid workforce is an innovative way of incorporating human resources (HR) technology and employee experience best practices in order for employees to feel more satisfied and engaged with their work and the company they work for — whether remotely or in the office. This helps businesses become resilient since this type of approach creates a competitive advantage through better quality leadership which leads to innovation within the company itself.
A hybrid workforce is not just the new fad of hiring freelancers or contractors on-demand. True hybrids are companies that don’t think about their people as an expense but rather as strategic assets with a high economic value that should be cared for like family members — one human at a time.
Overcoming recruitment and onboarding challenges
One of the most complex parts of transitioning to an agile office is handling and supporting your staff during the transition from a traditional one. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time for you to find where everyone in your company wants to work from and figure out how they’re going to get there, get set up, and be as productive as possible.
For some people, this may be as simple as moving their desks. Others may need more help with things like accessibility or mobility needs that are unique to them because of disabilities or other issues. It’s key to ensure your company offers a flexible, sustainable, and agile working environment both on-site and off.
Remote working is a hot topic right now as companies realize that they can’t afford to ignore the benefits of having remote workers. Companies like Automattic, Basecamp, and Buffer have achieved great success with remote workforces and a multitude of styles of remote working — but not all organizations are able to make this happen.
Finding talented people who are willing or even capable of working remotely means ensuring you have robust processes to make this happen that help attracts the right kind of talent. If you’re keen to have people in the office in different parts of the country, paying relocation costs for new employees is a good option, perhaps even offering this alongside the opportunity to work remotely part-time.
Some employees have a hard time transitioning into their new roles as remote workers. In order to make the transition more accessible, more support is needed for those who are new to this type of working environment. Whether it be informational meetings or one-on-one counseling sessions, there should always be an option available for anyone who needs help assimilating with their job offsite.
The benefits of being able to work remotely far outweigh any potential disadvantages. Still, if you’re not sure how your team will take it, then we have several blogs that look at the pros and cons of offering remote working and how you can best implement it.
The needs of the hybrid workforce are different from those of traditional employees. But what does this mean for you as an employer overseeing the hybrid workforce of today? As a business, it means that your hiring process should cater to individuals who may not want to work full-time or those who would rather have more flexibility with their hours, or even perhaps those who would like to take on multiple freelance jobs at once.
Having a companywide positive attitude to mental health is vitally important because happy, supported employees are not only more productive it’s; if your team isn’t getting enough sleep, taking care of themselves emotionally, or managing their stress levels well then, they won’t perform well while working remotely (or any other lifestyle choice) which could lead to decreased productivity and morale among your team members.
Final word
Perhaps now you have a better understanding of the recruitment and onboarding challenges that come with a hybrid workforce. Although it can be challenging to find out what your employees want, it seems there are some general themes that many businesses face. Lastly, ensure you make gradual adjustments if you’re changing your onboarding process in 2022 — that way, everyone will feel comfortable and ready for the new techniques and procedures.
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Originally published at upstack.co on Apr 11, 2022, by Joanna Blomfield.
