Organizations across sectors have settled with the hybrid model. With the workforce being divided between homes and offices, ensuring equity in a hybrid workforce is extremely important.
Here are some ways leaders can ensure that:
Look forward
Work processes have changed since the pandemic. For over two years now, companies have transitioned to the norm. However, with remote and office work being handled side by side, a good leader has to set in motion work processes, communication systems, and reporting styles tailored to suit both sets of people. They have to reassess and reassign what is beneficial for individuals and the organization. During the pandemic, organizations were busy figuring out how to make the existing system work in a remote setup. Now, it is time to effectively set up new systems that can extend equitable resources for both groups.
Redefine visibility
The leaders themselves may be dividing time between work and home in a week. So, are the days they are home anything different from those when they are at work? If the answer is yes, they might want to relook the strategy. Not just for themselves, leaders have to ensure a way to prevent employees working remotely from slipping into obscurity. Being intentional and focused in their interactions with all will help them not just motivate all types of workers to perform but also cut the need to over-communicate. Steering the focus on completing the task is more important.
Set boundaries
It is for the leaders to break down the factors that make employees report to work or work remotely. Taking into account the resources available for the employees on both ends will solve this issue. This is of importance for women in the workforce, as the factors they have to attend to at home while working should be taken into account as well.
Roping all team members into this discussion will help the leaders understand the limitations some of them face in either category. Seeking their input will make them feel valued and deliver their best efforts.
As the hybrid model is about combining the best of resources and optimization, the divisions in the workforce should never result in more advantages or disadvantages for either group. The true test of equity is the hybrid model. and it is for leaders to rise to the occasion.
Here is an event for organizations trying to strike the right balance in a hybrid setup. In its 14th edition, the flagship program from Avtar, Segue Sessions, titled #HacktheHybrid –the ERG way, addresses aspects of optimizing the model for the advancement of women’s careers.
