If trend studies are any indication, Hybrid Work—a work style in which employees blend working from different locations, whether from home, an office or coworking space—is here to stay. From reducing stress levels and boosting productivity to encouraging a work/life balance and allowing autonomy, flex work has never been more fitting.
From a social impact lens, hybrid work can greatly improve the working environments for underrepresented groups, such as members of the BIPOC communities and working moms. Here are four often-overlooked yet incredibly important benefits of adopting a flexible, non-traditional working arrangement.
Mothers can balance family care and career
Studies show that women are leaving the workforce at a higher rate than men, with some women taking lower positions in order to balance their job responsibilities and their family care responsibilities. With a remote or hybrid work approach, mothers get to be more involved with childcare without sacrificing their job and their income. For stay-at-home moms in particular, flexible means that they can earn income while continuing to care for their families.
Although the balance is changing, women are usually the primary caregiver in the household and having flexibility around when and where they work is a game changer. Without this, women are more likely to decelerate their careers or leave the workforce altogether. In an effort to accommodate working mothers, many coworking spaces have created dedicated nursing rooms where moms can pump in privacy.
Space spotlight: Dayhouse Coworking
This women-owned workspace includes a lactation room for moms and a designated children’s play area.
Women may feel safer in curated coworking environments
There’s been a rise of female-focused coworking spaces, and some women gravitate toward these comfortable, no judgment zones. It’s a place where they can utilize amenities that are there to help them thrive, but also where they can wear what they want and don’t have to worry about prying eyes looking over their shoulder. Women also tend to feel more confident networking when they feel safe in their environment.
Flexible work increases virtual communication which can reduce the power dynamics that might be found at a traditional office where women are less likely to speak up or contribute if it’s a male-dominated environment. Tools such as Slack allow people to communicate in front of the entire department, therefore reducing opportunities for harassment or closed-door conversations where women are more likely to be negatively affected.
Space spotlight: ThinkBar
Lofted ceilings, large windows, skylights, exposed brick, and natural light make for a relaxed, welcoming work environment.
BIPOC workers are better represented
As Deskpass co-founder, Nicole Vasquez, points out, “from an industry perspective, black, indigenous, and people of color at tech companies are still unfortunately underrepresented.” They are unlikely to have the same experience at the office as their white counterparts, and are more likely to feel discomfort and disconnection at work or with their teammates.
One emerging trend in coworking is a rise in shared workspaces and social spaces specifically for people of color, like Mox.E in Chicago. Flex work also allows BIPOC employees to choose a workplace in their own neighborhood, or in a neighborhood with demographics that match their identity. “Another benefit is that seeing people who are successful that look like you is a great inspiration,” Vasquez adds. Having the freedom to choose is key in finding an environment where you feel safe and supported.
Space spotlight: Mox.E
This BIPOC-owned space is where under-represented entrepreneurs go to build, connect, and capitalize their businesses.
A healthier work/life balance leads to more human connections
Pre-pandemic, what the traditional 9-5 office got right was the separation of work and home. When strictly working from home, many people find it hard to disconnect from work when their kitchen table is now their office. Instead of being a place where they’d gather with friends and family, they now consider it their workplace.
People now know what it’s like to work remotely long-term, and while people value flexibility in how and where they work, they still crave human connection. They want to feel professional and to have access to professional environments, but they want it close to home and on their schedule. Going forward, work/life balance will be a lot more attainable because people will have the ability to go into the office when and where it is most conducive to their lifestyle.
Space spotlight: Art/Work Coworking
Open day and night, this spaces offers an integrated collaboration between art, technology, work and life,
About Deskpass
Deskpass is a Hybrid Work solution for companies with remote or distributed teams. Through our network of thousands of workspaces across the world, we provide on-demand desks, meeting rooms and private offices by the hour, day, week and month. There’s no setup or monthly fees—it’s purely pay as you go. Deskpass is available globally.
At Deskpass we believe where you work impacts how you work. The right space has the power to help people work more efficiently, effectively, happily. We’re on a mission to power productivity by connecting your employees to work spaces tailored to their needs.
Get a complimentary $250 Deskpass credit when you sign up for a Teams account today.
How to make Hybrid Work for your Team
Hybrid work allows hiring teams to tap into larger talent pools, increase diversity at their company, and retain happy employees. Here are four best practices for adopting this flexible, non-traditional working arrangement.
Adapt an asynchronous communication style
In an asynchronous communication style, workers are in touch with managers and colleagues throughout the day, but without the expectation of receiving an immediate response.
Create benefits that cater to remote work
Some employees feel left out or not treated as well as their in-house colleagues. Creating benefits that cater to a remote workforce shows employees that they are valued and still part of the team.
Educate employees on cyber security best practices
A company’s data is only as secure as the weakest individual link. Providing ongoing training around safety practices helps reinforce behaviors such as using a password manager and 2FA.
Invest in remote company culture
We live in an increasingly digital world, and yet community remains a core component of any successful business. Encourage camera time on calls, host virtual hangouts, or create a learning hub.
Paid sponsored content by Deskpass