A Case for Hybrid Work Environments

I am a digital nomad and have worked remotely for the past six years. I 100% support remote-first and have coached people in the past on how to be successful working outside the office. A little bit of creativity can overcome many of the common reasons people state for wanting to return to the office.

• Temporary co-work offices, coffee meetups, library workgroups, or intensive offsites (think Airbnb for a week) fulfill the desire for in-person collaboration and team building.
• Technology stipends and equipment such as mobile hotspots or satellite wifi systems overcome technology barriers. 
• A culture of asynchronous work, embracing boundaries, and setting expectations around off-hours communication mitigate the pressure to "always be on" and become overworked.

​So why am I writing an article making a case for the hybrid work environment? 

The reality for some is that working from home is not safe. The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice report an 8.1% increase in reported domestic violence incidents at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. Updated metrics are difficult to define, but a reasonable assumption is that number did not go down as the lockdown continued for over a year.

​The Occupational Safety and Health Act's "General Duty" clause mandates that companies provide each employee with a "a place of employment free of recognizable hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm" (29 U.S.C. Section 654(a)(1)).

What Employers Can Do

1. Have a domestic violence policy in place tied into your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that meets or exceeds local and state legislation and includes resources for victims of domestic violence.
2. Normalize an environment of safe communication at all levels of the organization.
3. Take a hybrid-work approach and support remote and on-premise employees equitably.  
4. Create a culture that focuses on the work product and not where the work is completed.
5. Allow employees to work where they are most productive without asking for reason or justification.  
6. Educate yourself on how to look for subtle signs and safely intervene when possible.

While remote work is gaining steam and should be a part of any company's plan, an on-premise option is still necessary. Try satellite offices or permanent co-work locations for those who wish to work on-site. Hybrid working models are the future.

Resources
https://www.workplacesrespond.org/covid19supportingworkers/
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/get-updates-information-covid-19/
​https://store.asisonline.org/workplace-violence-prevention-and-intervention-standard-softcover.html