The new workplace is not in-office and not remote, but a secret third thing.
Yes, this is an overused meme format resurrected from the graveyard of Twitter, but it’s also an apt way to capture the nebulous, elusive nature of the new hybrid mode of working.
We’re in the hybrid era of work. It is the topic du jour in human resources circles because it poses such a unique challenge for workplaces navigating the murky post-vaccination waters of the world.
Most workers don’t want to return to pre-pandemic models of work. Instead, they want to cherry pick the best parts of remote and in-office work and blend them to create a new, better version of the workplace. According to a 2021 Harvard Business School survey, 81 percent either don’t want to go back to the office or would prefer a hybrid schedule going forward, and 61 percent would like to work from home two to three days a week.
Done well, a hybrid model enables employees to work in the way that best supports their productivity, cuts commute times and adds an element of prestige to in-person bonding. Done poorly, it reduces visibility, promotes inequity and becomes a chaotic headache to manage.
For those curious to learn what an effective hybrid model looks like, Built In SF touched base with Course Hero, which has a policy that allows employees to choose when to work from home and when to work in-person. The company is an edtech unicorn headquartered in Redwood City, California, and employees primarily work from home within a 50-mile radius of each of its offices: it has additional locations in Vancouver, Toronto and India.
Here’s how the company implements its hybrid model effectively — and, take note: Course Hero is hiring!
Describe your hybrid remote workplace arrangement.
Course Hero’s virtual-first model is based on our belief that flexibility and work-life balance are essential for our employees. Our employees primarily work from home within a 50-mile radius of our office hubs which are used for in-person collaboration, brainstorming and culture building.
In a recent pulse survey, 86 percent of employees said they’ve found effective ways to collaborate while working remotely and 76 percent feel connected to their colleagues and have meaningful interactions. Some employees prefer to work in the office and go in a few times a week, others go in once a month or quarter to connect with their teams.
86 percent of employees said they’ve found effective ways to collaborate while working remotely and 76 percent feel connected to their colleagues and have meaningful interactions.
We’re also experimenting with in-person cross-functional team meetings on a quarterly basis — for those who can’t meet in-person, we have video conferencing available in the office. All of these interactions are supported by a guide for remote work best practices to ensure our hybrid teams are connected.
How have you celebrated being back in the office?
As our office has opened up, we’ve hosted more in-person events including our annual Summer Field and Volunteer Day, a day in which employees are encouraged to meet in-person and participate in some friendly competition while also giving back to the community. Most of our events have both a virtual and in-person element.
Some other events we’ve hosted have centered around cultural moments including Pride Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. We try to provide the best experience for our employees every time there is an opportunity for people to meet in person.
