Hybrid Work of tomorrow: The Future of the World of Work

The world of work has changed fundamentally in recent years and is facing new challenges. Flexible working, remote working and virtual collaboration have long ceased to be exceptions and are increasingly shaping everyday working life. The COVID 19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a strong influence on these developments, but the changes began even before the crisis broke out. The current situation requires innovative approaches to meet the demands of hybrid working. In this article, we will take a look at the initial situation and consider the changes that have taken place in recent years. Furthermore, the current problems and challenges of the working world will be highlighted. Finally, possible solutions will be highlighted, including ReCoTech’s product “Seedit”, which helps companies to deal effectively with the new working reality. Together we will gain an insight into the future of work and explore the opportunities of hybrid working.

CURRENT SITUATION

The world of work has evolved at a rapid pace in recent years, with the COVID 19 pandemic undoubtedly being a notable accelerating factor. However, the pandemic should not be seen as the sole trigger for these changes, as new trends and technologies were already paving the way for a transformed work culture before its outbreak. Rather, the pandemic acted as a catalyst, forcing companies and workers to adapt to hybrid working models faster than ever before.

Flexible working hours: Traditional working time models based on fixed office hours are increasingly outdated. Employees prefer more flexible working hours to achieve a better work-life balance.

Remote working: The possibility to work from home or from any other location has greatly increased. This gives employees more flexibility and saves them time and money on their daily commute.

Virtual cooperation: Advances in communication technology have made it much easier to collaborate across large distances. Virtual meetings, online collaboration tools and project management platforms allow teams to work together effectively, regardless of their location.

Growing demand for digital skills: As digitalisation progresses, the need for digital competences becomes more and more important. Employees must have the necessary skills to use technology effectively and to deal with digital tools.
Changing workplace requirements: Workplaces are increasingly being transformed from rigid office structures to more flexible environments. New work concepts such as coworking spaces and hybrid offices are emerging, offering employees more choice and a stimulating work environment.

CURRENT INITIAL SITUATION

The current work situation presents itself with a number of challenges that go hand in hand with the changes in the world of work. Especially in the hybrid work environment, there are various problems to be overcome:

Work-Life-Balance: The boundaries between work and private life become blurred when employees work from home. It can be difficult to set clear boundaries and get enough rest.

Communication and cooperation: Virtual communication can cause misunderstandings and make face-to-face exchanges difficult. Collaboration in distributed teams requires extra effort to be effective.

Technical challenges: Not all employees have the necessary technical skills or the appropriate technical equipment to optimally manage remote work. This can lead to a loss of productivity and affect the flow of work.
Lack of social interaction: Limiting face-to-face meetings can lead to a lack of social interaction and a sense of isolation. Informal exchange and the team feeling can suffer.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

In order to meet the challenges of hybrid working and to shape the working world of the future, various approaches can be pursued. Here are some concrete measures and technologies that can support companies and employees:

Flexible working time management: Companies should introduce flexible working time models that allow employees to adapt their work to their individual needs. This can include, for example, the introduction of flexitime, trust-based working time or part-time models. It is important to set clear guidelines to avoid abuse and ensure that workers are still available and productive.
Technical support for remote work: Companies should ensure that their employees have the necessary technical equipment and training to work effectively from home. This includes powerful laptops, reliable internet connections, video conferencing and collaboration tools. It is also important to provide IT support to quickly resolve technical issues and ensure staff productivity.
Strengthening communication and cooperation: To overcome the challenges of virtual communication, companies should invest in tools and platforms that facilitate collaboration. Video conferencing and chat tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Slack enable real-time communication and information sharing. Project management platforms such as Trello or Asana facilitate the organisation and tracking of tasks and enable collaboration in distributed teams.
Promoting social interaction: To compensate for the lack of face-to-face meetings and informal exchanges, companies can organise virtual team-building activities and regular virtual meetings or informal virtual coffee breaks. This promotes social cohesion and team spirit. It can also be helpful to offer online platforms for sharing interests or hobbies to give employees the opportunity to network outside of work.
Further education and training: Given the growing need for digital skills, companies should continuously educate their employees and provide training on relevant technologies and tools. This can take the form of internal training, external training programmes or the engagement of experts. Individual learning plans and flexible training formats allow employees to develop their skills in a targeted way.
Hybrid workstation design: When designing the workplace, companies should aim for flexible solutions. This can include the creation of hybrid offices that offer both on-site workplaces and resources for remote working. Coworking spaces can provide an alternative work environment where employees can come together as needed. It is important to allow employees to customise their workspace to their individual preferences and needs.

In conclusion, the future of work involves hybrid working models that combine flexibility and effectiveness. By implementing innovative approaches, companies can overcome the challenges and take full advantage of hybrid working. Products such as “Seedit” from ReCoTech can help improve digital collaboration and actively shape the working world of the future. It is now up to companies to seize these opportunities and create a work culture that meets both the needs of employees and the goals of the company.

HOW RECOTECH GMBH CAN HELP YOU

ReCoTech offers a comprehensive range of workplace booking and time recording services that help companies meet the challenges of hybrid working and actively shape the working world of the future. With ReCoTech, companies always have an overview of their workplaces and can see who is in the office and when. This enables an efficient distribution of workplaces and avoids bottlenecks, overcapacity or hygiene risks.
A central element of ReCoTech is the intelligent Booking Assistant. This intuitive tool enables employees to independently organise and optimise their daily work routine. They can conveniently enter their presence and home office times and book workplaces via the system. The Booking Assistant takes into account the availability and capacity of the workstations to ensure harmonised utilisation.
In addition, ReCoTech offers a variety of functions and features to make workstation booking and time recording effective. These include monitoring all operations to maintain an overview, optimising resource utilisation and reducing environmental impact. By offering ReCoTech, companies can increase the satisfaction and productivity of their employees while creating a flexible and efficient working environment.
ReCoTech helps companies to take full advantage of the benefits of hybrid working and to establish a working culture that meets the needs of employees and the goals of the company. With innovative solutions such as “Seedit”, ReCoTech contributes to improving digital collaboration and enables companies to actively shape the working world of the future.

Sources:

• „The Future of Work: How the Pandemic Has Accelerated Remote Work Trends“ – Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/05/28/the-future-of-work-how-the-pandemic-has-accelerated-remote-work-trends/?sh=58eaa92775d9)
• „The rise of remote work: Why the future is hybrid“ – Deloitte (https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/impact-of-covid-19-on-future-of-work-hybrid-remote.html)
• „The Future of Work: Remote Work“ – World Economic Forum (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/remote-work-future-of-work-podcast/)
• „The Challenges and Benefits of Hybrid Work Models“ – Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2021/10/the-challenges-and-benefits-of-hybrid-work-models