What is a hybrid workplace model?

Explore examples, benefits, and challenges of this new way of working

Last updated: January 4, 2024

Hybrid work isn’t just a passing trend—it’s here to stay. Almost three-quarters of US companies (74%) are using or plan to use a permanent hybrid workplace model, according to a 2022 Zippia survey. The question is, what’s the right scheduling option for your organization? There are several choices to consider.

This article explores key hybrid work topics, including:

What is a hybrid work schedule?
Comparing 3 work models
Types of hybrid work schedules
Benefits of a hybrid work model
Challenges of hybrid work environments

Understanding the hybrid work model

The hybrid work model is a combination of the 2 most common work styles: in-person and remote. With hybrid work, employees aren’t required to be in the office every workday, but they’re also not working 100% remotely. Employees may be given specific times to be in the office (such as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) or have full autonomy to choose when they come into the office and when they work remotely.

Comparing 3 work models

Let’s take a closer look at the 3 most common work models and the experiences they create for employees.

In-office work schedule

Employees always work from the office full-time, except on the infrequent occasion that circumstances prevent them from doing so.

Remote work schedule

All employees work from home or remotely from different locations instead of in a physical office. Team members may see one another in person throughout the year for events or meetings.

Hybrid work schedule

This method combines the 2 other models. Some days, employees will work from home, and on other days they’ll follow a specific structure in the office.

While hybrid work isn’t new, most companies have only gotten on board with this growing trend in the last few years. In 2017-2018, only 25% of wage and salary workers worked from home at least sometimes. Today, 33% work in a hybrid environment.

Types of hybrid work schedules

There are several ways to implement a hybrid workplace model. Review these options to discover what will work best for your team.

Split team

This schedule allows a team to have different permanent work locations, such as some team members working in the office and others working remotely. Entire teams may also designate a specific day of the week for everyone to meet in person at the office.

Split week (3:2 model)

Employees work in the office for 3 days and spend 2 days working from home. This policy allows everyone to be in the office at the same time and still enjoy some of the benefits of working from home.

Shift/staggered schedule

This strict cohort-based schedule requires small groups of employees to come into the office and leave at designated times. These schedules are most common in shift-based work, especially when a business may be operating at reduced capacity but still needs to have some team members in the office at all times.

Week on, week off

Employees come in for one week and focus on the tasks they need to complete in person. The following week, they can work remotely. A variation of this hybrid work schedule may also allow for one week in the office, then several weeks at home.

Flexible (or at will)

Team members are always able to choose their work environment, their working hours, or both. As long as work gets done, employees are free to choose. This option may require specific systems to run smoothly. For example, employees may need a process for reserving space in the office if they have plans to come in.

Synchronous versus asynchronous

Synchronous communication requires contact in real time. While employees may be working across different locations, they’ll all attend meetings at the same time. It might be challenging to find a time that works for everyone if your team is distributed across the globe, but online platforms make this method more accessible than ever.

Asynchronous communication happens on the employees’ own time and can happen from any location. For non-urgent conversations, asynchronous channels like email or messaging apps keep your team connected while still keeping schedules flexible.

Benefits of a hybrid work model

Curious about what implementing a hybrid work model can do for your company or your employees? Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

Reduces operating costs

Many people think about hybrid working in the context of how it affects employees, but workers aren’t the only ones who see the benefits of a hybrid work model. According to Robin’s 2023 Office Space Report, 91% of businesses are using a hybrid model to trim costs.

Cutting down on office space and equipment allows organizations to save money, and many companies have plans to continue trimming. The same report shows that 69% of workplace leaders plan to decrease their office footprint by half or more next year.

Boosts productivity

Sticking to a rigid schedule might seem like the best way to ensure productivity, but research shows that might not be the best approach. In fact, McKinsey’s 2023 hybrid work report shows that in all countries where it surveyed workers, they cited increasing productivity as a top reason for working a flexible hybrid model.

Improves employees’ physical and mental health

As more people are changing their mindset about how they work, they’ve come to realize the impact that spending less time in the office can have.

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey, 85% of hybrid workers reported that they’re more likely to be satisfied with work than those who work in person. And, in the same survey, 67% reported they had enough flexibility in a hybrid environment to more likely maintain a healthy work-life and personal-life balance than their colleagues.

But being happy in a hybrid environment doesn’t rely solely on a flexible schedule. Employers may also implement complementary strategies and benefits that support employee well-being in a hybrid work environment.

For example, companies can institute the following benefits as part of their hybrid work model:

Virtual wellness programs: Offer online fitness classes or meditation sessions to help hybrid employees maintain physical and mental health.
Mental health resources: Provide teletherapy services and access to mental health support groups and tools.
Initiatives to combat isolation and promote connection: Strategies like virtual team-building exercises or digital social events can help reduce feelings of isolation among hybrid workers and foster a sense of community.
Meal programs wherever employees are located: Offering meal programs through Uber for Business can help enhance the hybrid work experience by giving employees access to healthy meals.

Lowers turnover

Turnover is a significant problem for businesses across industries, and high levels of turnover act as a drain on time and resources. On average, companies see a 12% decrease in turnover when they let their employees work remotely at least some of the time. This is critical as organizations compete with one another to attract the workers they want to have on their teams.

Challenges of hybrid work environments

Even with all the benefits of a hybrid work schedule, challenges can arise. Consider how you’ll manage them before adopting the structure long-term.

Communication issues

Flexibility at work can be a good thing, but it also has its downsides. When you can’t just walk into any co-worker’s office to ask a question, you need to know how to get in touch. Employees also must know what’s expected of them when they’re leveraging your hybrid work-from-home model. Otherwise, there’s bound to be miscommunication and delays.

To prevent this, invest in specific communication and collaboration tools that make it easier for workers—no matter their working location—to connect and work together.

For example, decide on which project management, customer relations management, video conference, and chat tools you’ll use across the board. Then set up each employee with unique profiles and provide training on how to effectively use the tools.

You may also need to establish processes for on-site and remote workers to connect with one another in real time. This will make sure everyone can collaborate and participate in meetings.

Team member burnout

On the days employees do work from home, it might be difficult for them to know when to unplug. This can lead to issues with overworking and may cause workers to feel burned out more quickly.

To avoid this, leaders may consider establishing clear policies regarding work hours, ensuring that employees have defined times to start and end their workday—even when working from home.

Additionally, encouraging the use of tools like automated reminders or end-of-day checkout messages reinforces healthy work boundaries. These practices help remote workers better manage their time and reduce the risk of burnout.

Lower morale

People spend a third of their life “at work,” according to Gettysburg College, but what happens when that work isn’t always in the same place as other people’s?

Hybrid work can make it difficult to create the company culture you want and boost morale. Employees may feel disconnected from one another and isolated with a hybrid work-from-home approach. This makes it more important than ever to find ways to create connections, giving employees space and time to foster interpersonal relationships.

To enhance connections and boost morale, consider hosting regular virtual coffee breaks where team members can interact like they would in a physical office setting. Additionally, offering hybrid workshops or team training sessions promotes learning and allows employees to interact with one another, regardless of their physical location.

IT costs and cybersecurity risks

Zippia’s survey shows that companies’ IT expenses rose almost 7% between 2020 and 2021 as they adjusted to the new reality of remote or hybrid schedules.

Organizations need to make sure their employees have secure tools and systems, no matter where they’re working. They also need to pay closer attention to their work devices and security risks that pose a threat in hybrid work environments.

To enhance security, enforce multifactor authentication when employees access company data and systems. Also, you can provide mandatory cybersecurity training sessions to help employees understand the latest security threats and safe practices. Finally, making sure all devices and software are up to date with the latest security patches and system updates can help protect against vulnerabilities.

Bring more happiness to your hybrid workplace

Whether you’re thinking about adopting a hybrid workplace model to cut costs, boost productivity, or improve morale, one thing is certain: there’s a right way and a wrong way to make the transition.

The right way is to keep employee well-being as the polestar to guide your decisions. To make it work, don’t only offer a flexible schedule. Offer a flexible schedule with added benefits like mental health support, planned opportunities to connect, and meal programs.

Want to motivate employees with great meals, from wherever they work? Create a meal program with Uber for Business and let your people get their favorites delivered right to their doorstep. You can also offer one-off vouchers for events and virtual meetings.

Select your preferred language

English 简体中文 Español (Internacional)