Two Sides of an Argument - The Case Against Hybrid Work

Following on the last discussion about the positive benefits of maintaining a hybrid working arrangement for employees, we came across a very interesting article that articulates extremely well the counter argument.

Experts agree that there are benefits for the hybrid working conditions, such as added flexibility and autonomy for workers, however some feel that the negative aspects may create division within the organisation and resentment in the broader community. 

The problem is that not everyone can work in a hybrid model, according to Anu Madgavkar, a partner with the McKinsey Global Institute, “around 50% to 60% of work across different occupations need to be done in a site-specific way”. Some employees need to be in the workplace to do certain activities, even within the same workplace, some employees may need to be present while others may not. Will this cause a division within the culture of the organisation if some employees feel under privileged?  

“Companies are wary about this ‘two-track’ culture” says Madgavkar. By allowing this module for some and not others, are organisations creating two competing cultures? Will this situation influence the career choices for the next generation and if so, will this cause a major shortage of workers in the industries that require a physical presence at the workplace?

No one is certain how this arrangement will impact them but one thing is for certain, companies should tread carefully and prepare their employees for the return to the office (or with a hybrid solution).

Click here to view the article “The Case Against Hybrid Work”