Embracing Agile Work Models: The Future of Flexible and Hybrid Work

• Embracing Agile Work Models: The Future of Flexible and Hybrid Work

                                                                Source (EY Finland, 2021)

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, where we were all forced to be in-house due to the deadly attack, the 9-hour job or more, like an 8-5 office routine, has changed. With remote work becoming the norm rather than the usual 8–5 office hours, Companies and organisations worldwide are looking for different perspectives and ways to improve employee engagement and productivity. As we started this new era of work, one of the most significant HR trends emerging was the adoption of an agile, flexible, or hybrid working system. (D., 2023)

Agility in action

An agile working style is a mindset that prioritises flexibility, adaptability, and collaboration. (Jadoul et al., 2020)

It is the opposite of the strict and structured traditional corporate office environment.

Agile work models empower and encourage employees to work at their own pace at their most productive time, however they like.

E.g., working from their bed room, a dedicated home office space, the office cubicle, or a combination of both, which is hybrid, the focus and priority are on the outcome rather than the place or logged-in hours.

The rise of hybrid work

Hybrid work models have gained significant traction as companies now seek to strike a balance between remote and in-person collaboration.

By letting the staff decide the place where they are most comfortable to work, it can boost their morale, motivation, and, most importantly, productivity.

It reduces the daily commute time and gives enough time to work on the pending work, and this will also give flexibility towards the work-life balance.

Moreover, this hybrid model promotes and accommodates the employee’s needs and preferences.

Challenges and opportunities

(team, 2023)

While this hybrid version, or agile model, offers many benefits, it also presents a set of unique challenges.

HR departments and management must adapt and change accordingly.

They need to enrol the team in more and more software to monitor and check the quality and the logged hours of the team members.

Keep track of the team on one page for daily work or ongoing projects.

Management needs to work on a new policy and a stream of new trust-building activities and nurture them to make sure that the team is onboard with this new policy or model properly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the future of work is agile, flexible, and 

By embracing these new and unique models, companies and organisations can unlock new levels of opportunities, productivity, and collaboration, which also improve employee satisfaction. As we navigate the post-pandemic world, we need to embrace agility, as it helps with productivity to move forward for a brighter and more inclusive future of work.

D., R. (2023), The Future of Work: Embracing Hybrid Working for a Thriving Workforce, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-work-embracing-hybrid-working-thriving-workforce-rajdeep-dutta (Accessed: March 26, 2024).

Jadoul, Q. et al. (2020) Agility in the Time of COVID-19: Changing Your Operating Model in an Age of Turbulence, McKinsey & Company. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/agility-in-the-time-of-covid-19-changing-your-operating-model-in-an-age-of-turbulence (Accessed: March 26, 2024).

The rise of hybrid work: from office to total flexibility (no date) The future of global HR. Available at: https://www.deel.com/blog/rise-of-hybrid-work#:~:text=An%20increasing%20amount%20of%20companies,new%20needs%20of%20the%20workforce. (Accessed: March 26, 2024) .

team, Profit.co (2023): What is hybrid culture, its benefits and challenges? Best OKR Software by Profit.co. Available at: https://www.profit.co/blog/employee-engagement/what-is-hybrid-culture-its-benefits-and-challenges/ (Accessed: March 26, 2024).