Hybrid work, which is often described as the future of remote work, is a work mode that combines the best features of remote work and office work to varying degrees. Hybrid work is not exactly a new concept, but it has become more popular in recent years due to the changing work culture and the need for companies to invest in their employees. A hybrid remote work model is an arrangement between an employer and employee that combines aspects of telecommuting, traditional office-based work, and working from home. There are several types of hybrid remote work models, and in this article, we will look at each of them and their pros and cons.
Office-first model, remote-first model, and partly-hybrid model are three types of hybrid remote work models based on the work environment. Split week model and week by week model are the two types of hybrid remote work models based on schedules. Flexible hybrid model is a more open work model that falls under both these categories.
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Hybrid Remote Work Models
1. Office-First Hybrid Remote Work Model
In this model, work from office is the default working mode. In other words, companies that follow this model require their workers to come to the office on most days; remote work is only an added perk. Sometimes they may be given a day per week or a few days per month for remote work. In this model, employees can choose to work remotely when they have to take care of their personal matters; this way, they won’t have to take leave when they are unable to go to the office. Generally, companies that follow this model believe that physical distance is an obstacle to successful teamwork.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Allows more flexibility | May cause operational problems |
| Encourages teamwork and collaboration | Not practical for a dispersed set of employees |
| May involve long commutes |
2. Remote-First Hybrid Remote Work Model
Remote-first hybrid work model is the opposite of the office-first hybrid work model. In the remote-first model, remote work is the default working mode. But the company may still maintain physical office space so that employees can occasionally come to the office. Employees may visit the office and have a chance to meet their colleagues for big meetings or casual get-togethers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Improves efficiency | Tend to be unpredictable |
| The office serves as a convenient place for meetings | Can sometimes lead to overcrowding |
| Underutilized office spaces |
3. Partly Hybrid Remote Work Model
In this model, some employees work on-site, and others work remotely. In other words, a part of the workforce works remotely while the other part work in the office full-time. With this model, companies can hire non-local talent to work remotely and ask the local employees to come to the office regularly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can hire non-local employees | Some employees may be treated differently |
| Can reduce overhead |
4. Split Week Hybrid Remote Work Model
In this hybrid work model, employees work some days of the work remotely and come to the office on other days. For example, the marketing team will work from the office on Tuesday and Wednesday and the rest of the days from home. Meanwhile, the IT team will work from office on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, and the reaming two days from home. This model helps to avoid overcrowding.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Avoids overcrowding | Lacks inter-team interactions |
| Maintains team dynamics | Increase in operational costs |
5. Week by Week Hybrid Remote Work Model
In week by week model, employers alternate between working on-site and working remotely on a weekly basis. Here, some employees can work fully at the office for a week, and then for the next week, they can work from home. This type of hybrid remote work model is a good option for a company with many employees. It allows large teams to use the office space together and meet up for reviews and updates.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for large companies | Not practical for small companies |
| Saves office space | Not useful for sudden events or meetings |
6. Flexible Hybrid Remote Work Model
As its name suggests, this hybrid work model is flexible and allows employees to choose what type of work arrangement works best for them. It’s ideal for employees who want to come to office when they want to meet a colleague or need a place to work quietly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increases productivity | Can lead to an empty office |
| Improves job satisfaction | Creates problems in collaboration |
| Improves productivity |
As you can see from the above descriptions, there are many different types of hybrid remote work models and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important for a company to choose a hybrid work model that suits its employees and line of work.