Across Canada, we are seeing hybrid work models being slowly but steadily replaced by return-to-work policies.
In January, we saw the Ontario government and Amazon lead the charge on requiring full-time in-office work for many of their workers. The Alberta government is set to follow suit in February.
The federal government has not yet announced plans to require full-time in-office work, but Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated it was coming at an event in December.
Other provincial and territorial governments, banks and private sector companies are also said to be reviewing their hybrid work policies.
This trend is unfortunate, given the many benefits hybrid work affords.
I am a hybrid employee. I work remotely from home, two days a week. And I spend three days a week in the office.
As in so many workplaces, remote work was introduced at my workplace because of the pandemic. But my employer chose to continue its hybrid policy even after the pandemic ended.
I have loved hybrid work. One of its benefits is the reduced commute. I live 35 kilometres from my office, in an area where I have no choice but to drive. Bus, train, sidewalks, Uber, you name it — they are no other options where I live.
Two days of hybrid work thus saves me 140 kilometres of driving each week. This means lower fuel costs, less vehicle wear and tear, reduced emissions, and more money in my pocket to spend in my local economy.
It also means more time. Instead of commuting and eating my lunch at my desk, I can do a load of laundry, squeeze in a workout, read a few chapters, walk my dogs, or best of all, get an extra 30 minutes of coveted sleep!
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is being home during daylight. In the depths of winter, my commute gets me home after sunset. But on days where I work from home, I have time to be outside in daylight.
In a country where approximately 15 per cent of the population reports experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in their lifetime, this is huge.
Life can be hectic and time is scarce. Hybrid work gives me “back” a small sliver of my day, helping to even out the scales of the work-life balance we all strive to achieve.
Another huge benefit to hybrid work is job satisfaction and boosted morale.
Overall, hybrid work has made me feel more positive about my work, my employer, my colleagues, and my role and future with the organization. Hybrid work is in demand and is a step in the right direction for attraction and retention, especially in areas of the country where recruiting good employees can be a challenge.
Additionally, working from home can, I believe, boost productivity. Think about it: no coffee room chats, no stopping by your co-worker’s desk. Now, don’t get me wrong: there is value in those office rituals. But three days a week in the office affords those opportunities, while my days at home give me time to really focus.
I also find that on days I am in the office, I feel more energized and engaged with my colleagues.
For all these reasons, I believe the quality and quantity of my work output has at a minimum remained the same, and arguably even increased since starting hybrid work.
Critics of hybrid work say we need to return fully to the office to strengthen collaboration, reduce communication challenges, and revitalize downtown commerce. But I tend to disagree.
Perhaps if collaboration and communication is suffering in the workplace, it is a personnel issue that has always existed but which has been highlighted by hybrid work.
As far as revitalizing economies, workers’ money is simply being spent elsewhere. I, for example, spend more at local coffee shops and community events now; this does more for local commerce than eating a packed lunch at my desk.
I can confidently say that both my mental health and my fulfillment at work has improved greatly. Yet, as I write this, my employer is seeking to end their hybrid work policy.
Employers may do away with hybrid work in the near future. But that won’t be the end of the story.
I believe many current hybrid employees will begin to look elsewhere. Young adults entering the work force will look to join companies that offer hybrid work. People will go where they have a better chance at work-life balance.
Having experienced the benefits of hybrid work, companies will find it hard to force employees back to a sub-optimal work model.
