Can a Hybrid Work Schedule Really Work?
I recently made a business trip where I interacted with a very large number of people. The second day after I arrived home, I came down with a bad cold that deteriorated into hacking coughs and took me down for several days.
After 3 negative Covid tests, I’ve chalked it up to an untested immune system. After two years in near hibernation, it was my first exposure to a large number of people I see only rarely, so perhaps it is no surprise. Although I could have done without the cold, I don’t regret the trip. Re-connecting with people in person affords us the opportunity to better appreciate our work-related friendships. Socializing together off-hours gets us caught up on each other’s lives – people’s children, outside activities, etc. We share thoughts on shows we’ve seen or articles we have read, and we can share concerns we about the economy and the world stage. When we’re back in meetings discussing issues or trying to problem solve, the appreciation we have for our colleagues makes us better listeners and collaborators.
A number of corporate CEOs have been in the press about mandating a return to the office. The thinking behind that, I believe, it is that it is the only way to recreate the collegial ecosystem that fosters great ideas and shared purpose. Employees are pushing back. Many parents who lost their day-care or found the hours reduced now have drop-offs and pick-ups worked into their schedules. Many people re-purposed commuting time into time for workouts or time for family and still put in more hours than they did when they were in the office, so they see no need to return to an in-office schedule that never suited them well in the first place.
Perhaps we need to acknowledge that there is good and bad in working together and working apart. Both work and home environments offer opportunities for concentration yet have their own distractions. Commuting is usually a hassle and getting more expensive, but endless days working alone can be isolating, even with the video calls. Many firms are now in “hybrid” mode, but without a purpose behind it, do we risk the worst of both worlds? I’ll think on that as I sip the cappuccino that just landed on my desk from the group caffeine run. Your thoughts are welcome.
