Tips for Thriving in a Hybrid Workplace
// By Susan Dubuque //
On March 16, 2020, I met with a group of fellow Donate Life America volunteers in my office. That would be my last face-to-face meeting for the next 18 months.
My story is not unique. Throughout the pandemic, many nonessential employees have made the adjustment to working remotely. Somehow, we learned to navigate endless virtual meetings and carve out productive workspaces at home. And despite the chaos of dueling Zoom calls with our spouses and housemates, and dogs whining to go out in the middle of an important presentation, we managed to get our jobs done.
Now, as we’re moving toward a state of “new normal,” some organizations are mandating that their employees return to the office full time. Yet many more are wisely crafting hybrid models of working — ranging from permitting employees to work at home one or two days a week, to complete flexibility in scheduling in-office time, to the extreme “work from anywhere” (WFA) philosophy.
How does this apply to health care? The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions found that since the pandemic began, most health care employers either plan to start, or have already started, implementing new, flexible work methods. There are a number of compelling reasons for supporting a hybrid model — benefits that accrue to both the workforce and the organization.