In 2020, COVID plunged knowledge workers into the new work-from-home economy. In 2021 and 2022, return-to-office policies got some workers back in the building, while other employees adjusted to the permanently remote lifestyle. However, many employees are packing their laptops back and forth between their home workspace and the office, occupying the in-between space known as hybrid work.
In fact, by some estimates, as many as 60 percent of firms could soon move to a so-called “office-plus-anywhere” model as businesses try to balance the needs of in-office and remote workers. For employees who have to shift between the two, it can mean coming up with some creative new ways to work — which is why it’s so useful to keep the following tips in mind when setting up your hybrid workflow.
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Pack a commuter bag with things you need both at home and in the office.
One of the great annoyances of hybrid work is forgetting something you need at home or the office. That’s why a commuter bag can be a lifesaver for hybrid workers, especially those who work in “hot desk” offices without permanent desk assignments. Some of the key things that professionals often keep in their commuter bags include:
- Laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices
- Chargers for your devices
- Storage media, such as flash drives and external SSDs
- Glasses, medications, or other personal needs
- Access badges and keycards
A commuter bag works best when you make it part of your routine. When you know you’re going into the office tomorrow, pack your bag the night before, so you don’t have to scramble in the morning.
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Find ways to make yourself comfortable anywhere.
If you’ve equipped your home office with creature comforts like a footrest and a luxury office chair, the transition back to standard office furniture can be jarring. You can make in-person work a little more comfortable with some combination of the following:
- Backrests, foot rests, and seat cushions
- Stands for your computer monitor, laptop, or tablet
- Ergonomic mice and keyboards
- Blankets, hoodies, jackets, or other warm things
- Mugs, cutlery, and other lunch essentials
- Quick snacks and/or caffeinated drinks
Don’t have an office or cubicle to store these in? Talk to your boss to see if there’s an appropriate place to tuck them away when you’re not at the office. If not, look into compact versions of these items that you can take back and forth.
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Learn about relevant perks that your employer offers.
If you’ve recently shifted to a hybrid work model, make sure to take a look at your employee benefits to see if there are perks you could be taking advantage of. Some companies offer hybrid workers perks such as:
- Flexible working hours, so you can shape your hybrid schedule to meet your needs
- Home office stipends to purchase must-haves like a travel bag or extra charger
- Travel stipends for gas, public transit fare, or other commuting essentials
- Memberships or discounts at coworking spaces
Need something for efficient hybrid work that your company doesn’t offer? In most organizations, it won’t hurt to ask! Even if your management can’t offer you that specific benefit immediately, you might not be the only person asking for it — and when enough workers make their voices heard, they can inspire change.
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Coordinate your in-office time to maximize collaboration.
For many employees, coming into an otherwise-empty office defeats the purpose of in-person work, which is to foster collaboration and build relationships. Instead, try proactively setting up in-office days alongside the people you work most closely with (or just the people you enjoy being around the most). You’ll often find you get a lot more done (and have a lot more fun) when your friends and collaborators are around.
Interested in face time and mentorship opportunities with your supervisors to help you sharpen your skills and climb the ladder? Try coordinating in-person days with them! If you have regular check-ins with your boss, you could even opt to do some of them in person — because, even with all of our advances in videoconferencing, there’s nothing like talking to another human face-to-face.
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Get comfortable with cloud-based workflows.
For many hybrid workers, cloud-based tools are essential for productivity. Through applications like Asana, Trello, Slack, and the ever-popular Google Workspace suite, it’s easier than ever to share and collaborate with your coworkers from wherever you are. However, cloud collaboration can have a learning curve at first, especially if you or your coworkers are new to hybrid work.
As you transition into a cloud-based workflow, keep these important tips in mind:
- Ask your coworkers whether they prefer certain methods of communication, such as Slack messages, and let them know your preferences, too
- Take advantage of training resources on collaboration software that your job offers
- Learn time-saving productivity hacks, such as automating common functions
- Identify knowledgeable coworkers you can reach out to when you have questions
Above all, remember that your coworkers might still be learning, too — so be kind and be patient, even as you make your own needs clear.
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Be aware of your right to disability accommodations.
If you’re one of the estimated 11 million Americans with a disability, it’s important to know your rights when it comes to accommodations for hybrid work. The shift to a hybrid model can make certain features crucial to your workstation setup, such as wheelchair accessibility, screen magnifiers, noise canceling headphones, or any number of other accommodations. (An employment lawyer will help you determine your exact qualifications.)
Compliance requirements vary a lot based on your employer’s status and the essential functions of your job. Negotiating with your employer to find a mutually workable solution is often part of the arrangement. Usually, your first step should be talking to an HR representative, who will assess how your accommodation can fit with the workplace.
Hybrid work is one piece in the emerging picture of how we work in the 21st century. Like other workplace innovations, it’s creating plenty of disruption — but in the long run, it’s another step on the path toward more flexible and creative ways of working.
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