How to make a hybrid option work for everyone

The year 2020 made us all rethink how we work, and what we consider a work location. Some people who never considered remote work found themselves suddenly transitioned into a remote work or hybrid work location status. Others continued to work on site under new circumstances and restrictions.  

What is hybrid work? 

Hybrid work is when an employee works in more than one location, usually a combination of working from home and an on-site company location.



Now, some people who never considered a hybrid schedule find themselves thinking, “I think I’d like a hybrid schedule.” Others are thinking, “I can’t wait to return to an on-site work location full-time.” The experience of working remotely taught some employees that it is not for them, while others began to embrace the idea.   

Supervisor and leadership approvals needed for hybrid work 

• Step 1: Consider the position and the duties required. (Can the work effectively be performed remotely?) 
• Step 2: Consider the impact on your team or the services you provide if you work a hybrid or remote schedule. (Can you maintain support for the department and your team without causing others to do more work to cover for you?) 
• Step 3: Discuss the possibility of hybrid or remote work with your supervisors. (What is your strategy to stay productive? Create a possible hybrid or remote work schedule for review.) 
• Step 4: Complete the online request form. Review and discuss the hybrid and remote work agreement statements with your supervisor.  
• Step 5: If approved, communicate your new work schedule with your colleagues. Discuss a strategy for communications and collaborations. (What communication tools will you use such as MS Teams to collaborate and share projects or files?) 
• Step 6: Regularly evaluate how the hybrid and remote schedule is working for the employee and the department. 
• Some supervisors found themselves managing a team that was on-site only, remote only or both on-site and remote. Supervisors are tasked with evaluating the services of their departments to determine if workers can successfully work off site. They must review job functions to see if the job can be accomplished with some remote work days on a routine basis without negatively impacting the team or the services. 

Benefits of hybrid work 

Employees on a hybrid schedule can maintain healthy relationships with their team, manage their on-site and off-site schedules, create a productive routine, maintain effective work-life boundaries, complete tasks in a timely manner, and collaborate with their team or other colleagues. It may require a little more effort, intentionality, planning and check-ins, but it can be done. 



Ultimately, if hybrid work benefits an employee, it also benefits their leadership, supervisor and colleagues. 

What co-workers and supervisors need to know 

There are a few considerations for supervisors who want to support hybrid work options. Plus, employees who work on-site play a role in continuing teamwork with colleagues who work remotely sometimes. 

How supervisors can support hybrid work