The COVID-19 pandemic has made many employees worldwide realize that they don’t need to be in the office all day to stay productive.
As a result, hybrid work is becoming popular. According to research by Microsoft, 52% of people are likely to consider switching to a fully remote or hybrid company in the next year.
Hybrid work comes in different shapes and forms, which leaves companies wondering which setup would best suit their needs and ensure employee engagement.
This article will explore the main different types of hybrid work model examples so you can pick the one that would best fit your workplace.
Quick Summary: The five different types of hybrid work models are as follows:
- Mandatory office with a few flex days
- Office-first with optional remote work
- Hybrid (or 50/50 split)
- Remote-first with optional office visits
- Only from home with few onsite days
The right type of hybrid work model depends on the type of business you run and your employees’ needs.
Let’s dive into the five main hybrid work models.
5 Hybrid Work Model Examples
Wondering what hybrid work model examples exist and which would best fit your business? Here are the five different hybrid work models, along with examples of companies that have adopted them:
Model #1: Mandatory Office With a Few Flex Days
For companies under this work model, working in the office remains a priority. However, this doesn’t mean that employees don’t work remotely from time to time.
Example:
At Goldman Sachs, working in the office remains a priority. According to its CEO, David Solomon, in an interview with Fortune magazine: “Remote work is not ideal for us, and it’s not normal. It’s an aberration that we’re going to correct as quickly as possible.”
The company believes that its best collaborative work comes when employees share ideas in the office. That said, individual managers can set up flexible work arrangements for employees who request it.
Model #2: Office-First With Optional Remote Work
Here, most employees work predominantly from the office, with the option or obligation to work from home once in a while.
Companies with an office-centric model usually have a baseline (e.g., three mandatory days per week onsite) and allow their employees to decide where to work from the rest of the time.
Example:
At JP Morgan, employees are under the obligation to work at the company office three days a week. However, employees also have the option to work from home during the last two work days of the week if that’s what they prefer. Only a small portion of their workforce works remotely full-time.
Model #3: Hybrid (or 50/50 Split)
A hybrid office environment offers employees the best of both worlds. Under the hybrid workplace model, companies opt to have their employees work in the office half the time and remotely the other half.
Example:
Microsoft understands that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to how employees prefer working. Under its hybrid work policy, employees can choose how they’d prefer working, whether that’s at home or in the office.
Employees can also talk to their managers about the work hours that would best fit them, and, depending on their job, they may be able to choose which remote location(s) they’d like to work from.
Model #4: Remote-First With Optional Office Visits
With this model, remote is the default way of working, but the office is still open for everyone. Depending on the company and what its employees want, visits to the office may be optional or mandatory (once a week or every other week, for example).
In some cases, under this hybrid model, remote employees can choose the remote location they’d like to work from. This means they can be digital nomads, or employees who “hop” from location to location if they choose to.
Example:
Atlassian is a remote-first company that gives its remote workers full control over where and when they’d like to do their jobs. As part of its guiding principles, Atlassian wants its employees “to explore the world or spend time with far-flung family and friends if that’s what keeps them energized and balanced.”
Employees can live in any of the 13 countries in which Atlassian has legal entities. As such, under this work model, Atlassian can hire employees from all over the world — giving them access to the best possible talent pool and adding diversity to its workforce.
Model #5: Only From Home With Few Onsite Days
In this model, aside from a few days of the year when the company’s employees must show up to the office, home is these employees’ main workplace.
Example:
At Salesforce, office workers have the option to work from home full-time if their job allows it. They only have to show up to the office for special company events.
“An immersive workspace is no longer limited to a desk in our Towers,” says Brent Hyder, Chief People Officer at Salesforce, in an article for Salesforce. “The 9-to-5 workday is dead; and the employee experience is about more than ping-pong tables and snacks.”
FAQ
What Is a Hybrid Work Model?
A hybrid work model is a system that mixes in-office and remote work to provide employees with more flexibility. The benefits include a better work-life balance and improved productivity for hybrid team members.
What Makes a Hybrid Workplace Successful?
Making a hybrid workplace successful involves having the right technology (such as office hoteling software), proper communication, and providing hybrid employees with all the tools they need to stay productive.
How Do I Transition to a Hybrid Work Environment?
To successfully transition to a hybrid work model, consider the type of hybrid model that would best fit your business. Run a survey with your employees to learn about their work preferences, reassess your HR policies, and adopt the technology necessary for hybrid work to succeed.
What Are Examples of Successful Companies With Hybrid Work Models?
Examples of companies that have adopted the hybrid work model for their business include Asana, ClickUp, Salesforce, and Microsoft.