Case Studies

Author: Kaylie Heno

Case Studies Regarding Hybrid Work Model

There are many different ways that companies today are implementing the hybrid model. Whether it be a 3 day / week in person model, or almost full-time remote, the hybrid model is proving to be a great success for many companies. With shown improvements in employee satisfaction and work life balance, hybrid work is something that we can expect to see more and more among companies today.

Apple, Google, and Citi

It has been found that 70% of companies plan to shift to some form of a hybrid work model in the near future. By working on small, personal tasks at home asynchronously and larger, more group oriented tasks in the office, companies like Apple, Google, and Citi are reaching higher levels of productivity among their employees. By maintaining a model where employees are not fully remote, companies are able to avoid things like overly-busy video call meetings. Of course, there are many benefits to being in-office, and with the hybrid model, companies and employees are able to get the best of both worlds.

Microsoft

Take a look at this video about how hybrid work looks at Microsoft! At Microsoft, they utilize the hybrid work model to accommodate employees from different countries, time zones, and lifestyles.

In this video, they show the many possibilities that are open to employees by using the hybrid work model. By taking this approach, employees are able to join meetings from anywhere in the building or anywhere in the world! Collaborative work is made simple through video conferencing and in-person meeting places as well.

In order to uphold their mission statement of "empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more", they made the switch to a more digital employee experience. By transforming the way they utilize technology, Microsoft aimed to become "proactive visionaries rather than reactive practitioners". To do this, they changed the way employees connected, the technology they used, and the structure with which their company worked. Since then, employees at Microsoft have felt more valued, have had much more flexibility in their work, and have shown increased levels of productivity. The company has made great changes in the way they look at digital capabilities, physical spaces and facilities, and cultural norms, and the results they have been seeing have been largely beneficial to the company.

IBM and Meta

Although there are many benefits to the hybrid work model, many employees still speak of something called "remote burnout", and feeling under-appreciated in their remote work. By utilizing the Hybrid model, employees are able to accomplish both in-person tasks and individual work, creating a much more agile and adaptable approach to work. By 2021, IBM stated that 80% of their employees would be working in a hybrid work model. On the other hand, Meta has seemed to have a much more negative viewpoint on this model, calling it an "illusion of choice".

"Digital First, Not Digital Only"

In the Forbes article, "Decoding Flexible Work Success: A Case Study", they mention Jeri Herman's mantra of "digital first, not digital only". This mantra stresses the importance of combining technological advancements and face-to-face connection in companies today in order to reach higher levels of success. By utilizing a hybrid model, companies and employees alike can reach greater satisfaction and accomplishment. Another noteworthy result of hybrid work is the specific needs of each team being met. Every company is different and requires different things of their employees, and by implementing the hybrid work model, companies can have their unique needs met. The article also speaks on the important distinction of "training" vs. "coaching". By "coaching" employees through the transition to a hybrid model, employees will feel empowered to work to the best of their ability. This is highly relevant to human resources, as meaningful conversations around hybrid work will lead to successful outcomes.

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