Visibility, flexibility, and connections crucial for hybrid set-ups — Gartner

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES — The most successful hybrid models encompass three main categories of explicit norms: visibility, flexibility, and workplace connections, said tech research and consulting firm Gartner. 

In a survey of 3,524 employees, Gartner revealed that visibility and shared work preferences could help increase employee engagement (+8%), sense of inclusion (+7%), and performance (+5%) in a hybrid team. 

Having around three or more remote days per week also gives employees flexibility and autonomy over their work and personal lives. 

As for fostering workplace connections, Gartner’s research shows that organizations can improve employee outcomes by facilitating periodic in-person meetings and on-site work with managers instead of return-to-office mandates 

Gartner HR Practice Director Caitlin Duffy also added that companies “should avoid implementing policies that require employees to be on-site while managers can work remotely, as this will foster disappointment and resentment in the workforce, which could ultimately lead to attrition.”

Meanwhile, employees are 12% more likely to leave employers that do not have explicit norms around hybrid work.

“As organizations create more formalized hybrid work models, HR leaders can reduce work friction and increase engagement by establishing and communicating new norms more intentionally and explicitly,” Duffy stated.