{"id":8365,"date":"2021-05-04T07:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T07:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=8365"},"modified":"2023-06-26T07:19:19","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T07:19:19","slug":"building-a-contemporary-hybrid-work-culture-reimagining-work-and-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/in\/blog\/building-a-contemporary-hybrid-work-culture-reimagining-work-and-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a contemporary hybrid work culture: Reimagining work and people"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If 2020 was all about WFH (working from home), this year is going to be about hybrid workplaces<\/a>. As companies coax employees back to offices, they will also have to manage a significant number wanting to continue working from home. Enter the hybrid culture, a work environment where some employees will work remotely, while others work from offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how do you, as a leader, ensure that your remote and in-office employees are treated the same? How do you get your people, both on and off your premises, to live your company\u2019s culture?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going back to basics \u2013 of workspaces and the definition of work <\/span> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is probably the most opportune moment for companies to redesign the concept of workspaces, reimagine work, and the very definition of productivity. Creating the right environment where your remote workers feel as valued as those working from the office will help nurture a more engaged workforce. Having the right policies and processes in place<\/a>, from both HR and IT perspectives, will help everyone feel connected and stay connected. Importantly, organisations need to be more creative in ensuring they can sustain their work culture in this new working model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a Gartner survey<\/a>, nearly one-third of newly remote or hybrid employees feel their organisation\u2019s culture has changed for the better since they started working remotely. So, leaders would do well to evolve a hybrid work culture policy anchored in the learnings from 2020 \u2013 one that allows greater flexibility, places greater trust in employees, and optimises technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a culture outside the office building<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The workplace and its events have transitioned from swanky boardrooms to homes and coffee shops. Whether it is virtual town halls or B-well sessions, or even volunteering opportunities, the hybrid workplace provides a unique opportunity to take the company culture beyond office corridors and that ping pong table. At Salesforce, for instance, we revisited our corporate social responsibility efforts<\/a> last year as employees continued to volunteer, albeit virtually, for varied social causes. B-Well Together, a company-wide well-being initiative, helped keep employee morale high with its online sessions featuring wellness gurus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaders\u2019 role is paramount in ensuring that company culture stays integral to the hybrid working model as well. Some ways you could do this is by conducting frequent Town Halls, both virtual and in-person, and one-on-one interactions to set expectations, outcomes, and accountability. While giving \u2018space\u2019 is good, each member of the team needs to know how their work impacts the larger organisation<\/a>. This visibility is easier to achieve in the normal \u2018office\u2019 culture but in hybrid workplace culture, these conversations need to be more frequent and candid. Also, use these opportunities to reinforce your organisation\u2019s unique culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prioritising employee well-being to improve satisfaction and motivation<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People are working from dining tables; are taking care of pets, kids, and elderly parents while continuing to attend conference calls that stretch beyond normal working hours. Stress has become a real issue. Now, as offices open, there are still lingering fears about the pandemic, which builds onto work stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a caring employer, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n