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“Hybrid work is happening. Your culture will need to catch up — fast.” (McKinsey). A hybrid workplace includes a mix of on-site and remote work, whether on specific days of the week or by specific teams. Given that basic framework, building and maintaining positive company culture is more complex than in a traditional office set-up, as it needs to encompass the different dynamics of the hybrid work model.
Workplace culture and employer brand are intrinsically linked. Culture creates your brand’s purpose and values. These values are reflected in the way your employees treat each other and interact with customers. How your staff feel about the company and brand not only influences their day-to-day working decisions but also comes across in every customer touchpoint.
A strong, positive, and inclusive culture keeps employees engaged and connected, whether they are working onsite or remotely. And this will help them make decisions and interact with customers in a way that ultimately delivers your brand values and promise.
Here are some things to consider when creating a strong company culture and employer brand within a hybrid workplace.
Creating a digitally inclusive workplace is critical in a hybrid model. You need to provide the same conditions and opportunities for all employees, whether they are working in the office, at home, or a different location.
In a hybrid environment, it is key to provide staff with technology that works anywhere and enables them to access files and applications as if they were working at their physical desk in the office.
Finally, there needs to be established and consistent work patterns or processes in place that guide employees to get things done efficiently and effectively. This helps create a unified work culture across individuals and teams, no matter where they are working from.
Communication is key in building company culture in a hybrid environment. It’s important to communicate better and more frequently with employees, whether they are working at the office or remotely. Based on Gallup research, employees are more engaged and are likely to stay with an organization if communication is open, timely, and accurate.
Having open communication with both on site and remote employees helps to build strong connections and create a culture of trust. So make sure you enable staff to have a voice and share their thoughts and ideas.
Remember to stay connected with the team through regular communication and across different channels – email, text, or instant messaging. This way, everyone can have equal access to all important company announcements. It’s also essential to check in and communicate directly with every staff member, through actual phone calls or 1:1 video meetings.
A company’s values and purpose become critical in creating a unified, positive, and meaningful culture. Especially with a diverse and dispersed workforce, employers need to not only build a supportive and inclusive culture but one that inspires people with common values, mission, and purpose.
Lastly, having a common purpose not only helps employees stay motivated and unified but also keeps everyone engaged and productive – wherever they are. Purpose can be the key to organizational performance. When employees understand their value and role in the company’s vision and mission, they become inspired to do their best work and contribute to the success of the business. Based on a recent McKinsey survey, employees expect their jobs to bring some sense of purpose to their lives – with 70%saying purpose is defined by their work.
Isolation is one of the biggest challenges when working from home or remotely. People want to stay connected and build social interactions with their friends and colleagues in the workplace. Although some employees do get a chance to see each other face-to-face when they are working at the office, it’s still important to have regular informal interactions across onsite and remote teams.
You can start by scheduling fortnightly or monthly events that are open for all employees to attend, like trivia nights, games, and other social gatherings. Also, encourage teams to have their informal meetings and catch-ups. These social interactions not only improve employee wellbeing, but also keep everyone happy, connected, and engaged.
People can sometimes feel confused and overwhelmed when working in a hybrid environment. So, leaders and managers need to set clear expectations for teams and employees. Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, whether they are working remotely or at the office.
Trust is critical when building a positive culture – but so is openness and transparency. Keep everyone in the loop, share regularly, and ensure every staff member is informed about what’s happening in the company, industry, and even in the wider community.
If you’d like to know more about workplace culture just get in touch, contact Studio DB today!
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