www.contactmonkey.com Open in urlscan Pro
209.59.138.174  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

GET https://www.contactmonkey.com/

<form role="search" class="searchform fusion-search-form  fusion-search-form-classic" method="get" action="https://www.contactmonkey.com/">
  <div class="fusion-search-form-content">
    <div class="fusion-search-field search-field">
      <label><span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span>
        <input type="search" value="" name="s" class="s" placeholder="Search..." required="" aria-required="true" aria-label="Search...">
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="fusion-search-button search-button">
      <input type="submit" class="fusion-search-submit searchsubmit" aria-label="Search" value="">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

GET https://www.contactmonkey.com/

<form role="search" class="searchform fusion-search-form  fusion-search-form-classic" method="get" action="https://www.contactmonkey.com/">
  <div class="fusion-search-form-content">
    <div class="fusion-search-field search-field">
      <label><span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span>
        <input type="search" value="" name="s" class="s" placeholder="Search..." required="" aria-required="true" aria-label="Search...">
      </label>
    </div>
    <div class="fusion-search-button search-button">
      <input type="submit" class="fusion-search-submit searchsubmit" aria-label="Search" value="">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

Skip to content
Search for:


 * Product
   * Overview
   * CreateDesign beautiful newsletters
   * Product Updates
   * EngageGather employee feedback
   * Try it Now
   * SendSupports Outlook & Gmail
   * Menu Item
   * TrackMeasure email performance
   * Menu Item
 * Pricing
 * Customers
 * Blog
 * Resources
 * Login
 * Schedule a Call

Search for:


 * Product
   * Overview
   * CreateDesign beautiful newsletters
   * Product Updates
   * EngageGather employee feedback
   * Try it Now
   * SendSupports Outlook & Gmail
   * Menu Item
   * TrackMeasure email performance
   * Menu Item
 * Pricing
 * Customers
 * Blog
 * Resources
 * Login
 * Schedule a Call


 * Product
   * Overview
   * CreateDesign beautiful newsletters
   * Product Updates
   * EngageGather employee feedback
   * Try it Now
   * SendSupports Outlook & Gmail
   * Menu Item
   * TrackMeasure email performance
   * Menu Item
 * Pricing
 * Customers
 * Blog
 * Resources
 * Login
 * Schedule a Call

 * Product
   * Overview
   * CreateDesign beautiful newsletters
   * Product Updates
   * EngageGather employee feedback
   * Try it Now
   * SendSupports Outlook & Gmail
   * Menu Item
   * TrackMeasure email performance
   * Menu Item
 * Pricing
 * Customers
 * Blog
 * Resources
 * Login
 * Schedule a Call


Previous Next
 * 

 * 
 * 


THE HYBRID WORKPLACE: A STRATEGIC GUIDE FOR 2021

The hybrid workplace has drawn interest from businesses across all industries.
And yet, it’s still unclear what this new buzzword means in practice. In this
guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the hybrid workplace—risks,
rewards, models, and more. 

Initially introduced as a safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the
hybrid workplace has seen a jump in popularity.

As employers look for new ways to attract top talent, the hybrid workplace has
become part of a competitive job package. The flexible arrangement balances
in-office and remote work—a boon for many employees.

And yet, companies are only working out the nuts and bolts of what a hybrid
workplace should look like. Questions of risks, rewards, the impacts on employee
engagement, as well as the logistics of hybrid work remain relatively
unexplored.

With this guide, we’ll try to shed some light on what a hybrid workplace could
look like in action. We’ll also explore hybrid workplace best practices and the
tools that can help you manage a hybrid workforce.


KEEP YOUR HYBRID WORKFORCE CONNECTED

Use ContactMonkey's powerful employee engagement tool

Book My Free Demo






WHAT IS A HYBRID WORKPLACE?

Hybrid work has quickly become a buzzword in today’s corporate vocabulary. But
what does it mean in practice?

Look at this way: a hybrid workplace is a flexible work arrangement where
employees can choose to work from home or from the office. While hybrid work
always consists of some combination of remote work and office work, there are
many ways it can play out. 

For instance, some employers may allow their staff maximum flexibility—employees
can choose where they want to work and when. In this arrangement, employees can
decide to work from home, or even abroad, 100% percent of the time. 

On the other hand, some employers may instate a more structured hybrid workplace
model. This can include asking employees to come into the office for a set
amount of days a week.

Ultimately, a hybrid workplace offers more choice for employees through added
flexibility. It also keeps employees safe and healthy by allowing space for
social distancing as we reel from the COVID-19 pandemic.


TYPES OF HYBRID WORKPLACE MODELS

Today, more than 50% of companies intend to implement some form of hybrid
workplace. Yet not everyone will be following the same blueprint. 

Some companies are opting for a hybrid workplace that prioritizes remote work
with minimal or no office time. Others are looking to strike a perfect balance
between office work and at-home work. Meanwhile, some organizations look to
minimize remote work while offering some flexibility as employees get used to
new routines post-pandemic. 

Here are just a few of the popular hybrid workplace models employers can choose
from:


TRY CONTACTMONKEY FOR OUTLOOK & GMAIL

Create engaging, measurable employee emails quickly and easily

Book My Free Demo




REMOTE-FIRST 

A remote-first hybrid workplace is one that allows fully remote work for some
employees. This workplace model is similar to a fully remote office with the
exception that some staff have to come to the office occasionally. Employees in
this group often include senior leaders and management staff.

Companies like Quora, Substack, and more have already adopted this model. It
allows these companies to cut down on real estate space while offering their
employees ultimate flexibility. A possible drawback is that employees who don’t
like to work from home no longer have many alternatives. 


OFFICE-OCCASIONAL

Many employers look forward to their return to the office. Some missed the
structure and social environment of the physical workplace. Others may have
faced an at-home work environment with plenty of distractions and are excited to
regain their focus.

If a complete return to the office is not yet possible, but your teams see the
benefits of this work environment, the office-occasional model is your solution.
This type of hybrid workplace allows employees to come in a few days a week. 

Whether it’s for health and safety reasons or employee preferences, this
workplace model creates balance between office work and remote work. It also
caters to a range of working styles.


OFFICE-FIRST, REMOTE ALLOWED

This model resembles earlier flexible workplace policies in place prior to
COVID-19. At companies with an office-first, remote allowed policy, employees
have the option to work from home on occasion. However, the office remains the
primary workspace. 

A risk with this hybrid workplace model is that workers who choose to work
remotely more often could be regarded negatively by colleagues or management. 

When a majority of people are in the office, it’s more likely that those who
aren’t will be seen as the odd men out and feel excluded. This in turn creates
divisions in the office, or deters employees from at-home work entirely.


CHOOSE THE RIGHT MODEL WITH EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK 

When choosing a hybrid workplace model for your organization, it’s important to
make an informed decision. Your choice should consider the type of industry,
your vision for the company’s future, and foremost, employee perspectives.

With ContactMonkey, you can gather essential employee feedback quickly and
easily, right through your employee newsletter.

Simply create 1-3 questions around hybrid work preferences. Then, embed them
into your employee newsletter using ContactMonkey’s drag-and-drop email template
builder. Ask questions such as: 

 * Does a remote work environment provide you with greater work-life balance?
   [yes / no]
 * Would you like to come into the office at least once a week? [yes / no]
 * How many times would you like to come into the office weekly? [comments
   option]

With ContactMonkey, you can take advantage of dichotomous response features such
as yes/no and thumbs up/down, as well as star ratings and emoji reactions. You
can also turn on commenting so employees can elaborate on their responses with
guaranteed anonymity. 




THE PROS AND CONS OF A HYBRID WORKPLACE

Choosing who can work from home and who comes into the office can be a
logistical headache. Without a well thought-out plan, a hybrid workplace can
create confusion for your employees and frustration for management. It could
also risk your company culture, team work, and creative output.


TRY EMAIL TEMPLATE BUILDER NOW

Live test the email builder, and see how to create fast and easy internal emails
with ContactMonkey.

Try Email Builder



On the other hand, a well-planned hybrid workplace can have many benefits. From
attracting a bigger talent pool, to increasing employee retention, hybrid work
can bring people together if done right.

Let’s break down some of the benefits and drawbacks of a hybrid workforce. 


BENEFITS OF A HYBRID WORKPLACE

Greater employee satisfaction: A recent study showed that 52% of the American
workforce was in favour of a hybrid workplace. This shows that a hybrid
workplace and employee satisfaction are directly related as hybrid work grows in
popularity among all employees. 

Bigger talent pool: The flexibility of a hybrid workplace could accommodate the
schedules of a wider range of job seekers—parents, part-time students, and
others. Meanwhile, having greater choice over one’s lifestyle makes hybrid work
attractive to millennials who look for more flexible and remote work options.
This in turn amplifies the candidate pool for companies with a hybrid workplace.

Competitive employer brand: A hybrid workplace enables employers to offer an
attractive job package to candidates. This advantage helps build a compelling
employer brand as more job seekers flock to such companies.

Higher productivity: According to one study, 95% of corporate employees are more
productive than before the pandemic. Less commuting and minimal workplace
distractions are possible reasons. While some attribute this success to having
fully remote employees, others suggest that it’s about striking a balance
between remote and in-office work. This way, all employees’ working styles can
be accommodated.

Better work-life balance: Work-life balance is the biggest reason that job
seekers look for flexible work. Whether it’s having time to pick up kids from
school or finishing work in time to get to the gym, hybrid work caters more to
employees’ personal lives. 


DISADVANTAGES OF A HYBRID WORKPLACE

Potential for reduced employee engagement: Removed from the office, employees
could be at greater risk of feeling disengagement and disconnected to
colleagues. As some employees work remotely while others come into the office,
certain workers may start feeling left out. 

Less employee collaboration: Studies conducted during the pandemic showed that
full-time employees who worked from home experienced a 37% drop in collaboration
time. When you introduce the added element of having some employees in-office
and others away, the impacts on collaboration can increase.

Increased surveillance: According to a study by Gartner, around 75% of office
conversations will likely be recorded and assessed by 2025. This type of
surveillance is especially a risk in remote and hybrid work environments where
managers feel less in control and in-touch with employees. 

Lack of control over the work environment: For a part of your workforce to
effectively work from home, access to reliable technology is key. Employees
working remotely need a quality computer, fast-speed internet, quality
headphones, and a range of software to collaborate effectively. 

The best way to understand the possible risks involved with a hybrid workplace
is by asking employees directly. With ContactMonkey’s anonymous comments,
employees can express their honest concerns and provide suggestions for your
hybrid workplace strategy. Best of all—they can add their feedback seamlessly,
right from your company newsletter.


COLLECT HONEST EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK

Use ContactMonkey's anonymous feedback tool

Book My Free Demo






5 TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTING A HYBRID WORKPLACE

Implementing a hybrid workplace doesn’t happen overnight, and there will likely
be a learning curve in the process. But with a bit of planning and investing in
effective tools, you can simplify the process while improving your employee
experience with added flexibility. 

We’ve listed our top hybrid workplace best practices along with tips for
managing a hybrid workforce. 


1. ESTABLISH A CLEAR HYBRID WORKPLACE POLICY AND GUIDELINES 

Before announcing your plans for a hybrid workplace to employees, take a pause.
Make sure you have a clear idea of what hybrid work will really entail for your
business. 

Are employees still expected to come into the office at least once a week? Will
there be a schedule to ensure that not everyone comes in at once and hampers
social distancing? If remote work is an option, will it include working from
another state or province, or even abroad? 

Prepare a set of answers to these questions and compile them into a document of
your hybrid workplace policies and guidelines. Then, distribute this across your
teams using your company newsletter. 

With an internal communications software like ContactMonkey, you’ll be able to
embed your guidelines document using smart links rather than bulky attachments.
Simply click on the smart links icon when creating your email newsletter within
the email template builder. This feature and others are all available through an
easy-to-use sidebar menu. 

Once your email is sent, you’ll be able to track how many people opened your
email and clicked on your document using ContactMonkey’s in-depth analytics.
This way, you’ll ensure that employees are aware of what to expect from your
hybrid workplace and can ask questions on what remains unclear.



With ContactMonkey’s emoji reactions, employees can also show how they feel
about the new guidelines and policies. Simply drag and drop a survey question
such as, ‘How do you feel about our new hybrid workplace policy?’ using your
ContactMonkey email template builder. Then, choose emoji reactions as the
response option for a quick way of gauging your employees’ take on hybrid work.


2. FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION

Before, you could rely on word of mouth for whatever slipped through the cracks
of your internal communications. But with a hybrid workplace, this becomes
harder. You need to ensure that employees are staying connected and receiving
key messages despite being away from the physical space of the office.

Whether they’re remote workers, in-office, or a bit of both, all employees rely
on your company emails for key updates. With ContactMonkey’s email template
builder, you can design stunning HTML emails and get in-depth analytics to gauge
employee engagement. 

 Try Email Builder



ContactMonkey helps you boost email engagement with interactive elements like
embedded pulse surveys and GIFs. It also lets you create more informative
communications while keeping things visually dynamic with videos and smart
links.



To check if your communications are reaching the remote teams in your hybrid
workforce, simply visit your analytics dashboard. You’ll have all the key
stats—open rates, click-through-rates, read times, and more—all in one place.
ContactMonkey’s segmented email stats will even let you pinpoint disengaged
departments and company locations so you can adapt your engagement strategy
accordingly. 


3. PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR COLLABORATION

Concerns about employee collaboration and engagement are at the forefront of
disputes on the risks of hybrid work. But with the right tools and technology,
these worries can be abated.

Remember, when it comes to collaboration, it’s not just about group work. Having
time for independent thinking and developing ideas to share with others is
equally important. 

In this way, independent work could support collaboration space if there are
effective tools to bring the two together. 

Collaborative video software like Remo is one innovative solution. It goes
beyond the capabilities of Zoom, allowing employees to draw and write on a group
whiteboard, or even share documents and media. Meanwhile, interactive employee
communications software like ContactMonkey enable employees to collaborate using
surveys, polls, smart links, and videos.

Using ContactMonkey’s pulse surveys, staff can ask questions, vote on new ideas,
give feedback, and comment on industry news. 



ContactMonkey’s email template builder lets you embed response features like
emoji reactions, star ratings, and thumbs up/down. So employees can easily give
feedback right from their emails. Not to mention, your internal communications
team can get a clear view of responses and engagement stats using their
ContactMonkey dashboard.


4. GATHER CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK

During a period of rapid change, the most important thing is to check in on
employees. Gathering continuous employee feedback lets you gauge staff concerns
before they become deal breakers for your team.

Are employees feeling distracted with the new hybrid work model? Do they feel
that their productivity has decreased? Or, are they  experiencing greater
work-life balance and wellbeing in the new work environment? These are all
important questions to ask during the transition to hybrid work. 

Employers are no longer able to simply gauge employee engagement and
satisfaction levels from in-person interactions. So honest feedback becomes
vital. 

With ContactMonkey, you can make the feedback process seamless by embedding
employee pulse surveys directly into your company newsletters. Using
ContactMonkey’s eNPS score feature, you can also check employee engagement
levels using a single, pointed question. Much like the example below:




5. BRACE FOR THE LEARNING CURVE

A hybrid workplace model is a popular feature across many companies—maybe even
the future of work. But it’s still a big leap from how things were in the past.
Senior leaders and staff alike will need time to adapt.

If you’re implementing an office-first hybrid model but notice some employees
going entirely off the grid, don’t panic. Instead, take inventory of how you’re
communicating your hybrid workplace policies. Speak with employees during your
weekly meetings and provide effective employee feedback.

On the other hand, if you notice that employees who are coming into the office
are less excited or motivated in their work, ask them what can be improved. 

With ContactMonkey, you can gather quick, continuous feedback using your
employee pulse surveys. But employees can also use the same feedback channel to
provide suggestions and allow you to make improvements to your hybrid office. 

Simply turn on anonymous commenting in your ContactMonkey template builder
before embedding your message into Outlook or Gmail. Employees will be able to
elaborate on their survey responses while feeling confident that anonymity is
guaranteed.




EFFECTIVELY MANAGE YOUR HYBRID WORKFORCE

It doesn’t look like the future of the office will resemble the past, but that’s
not necessarily a bad thing. Organizations that choose to opt for a hybrid
workplace can gain many advantages. The key is having proper planning, clear
guidelines, and being straightforward about your expectations. With the right
tools, you can ensure that employees stay connected and engaged whether they’re
6 or 6,000 feet apart. 

With ContactMonkey, you can ensure that collaboration and idea-sharing happen no
matter where your teams are located.

Embedded pulse surveys enable you to gather feedback and continuously make
improvements to your hybrid workplace model. Meanwhile, in-depth analytics can
give you peace-of-mind by ensuring that key messages are reaching your
employees—wherever they may be.


By Mariya|2021-09-01T11:59:59-04:00August 18th, 2021|Employee
Engagement|Comments Off on The Hybrid Workplace: A Strategic Guide For 2021


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MARIYA


Mariya is a new Content Writer at ContactMonkey. Since earning her Bachelor’s
degree in English, French and Spanish she has worked in communications, policy
and freelance journalism before exploring content marketing and SEO. In her
downtime, Mariya loves writing short stories, watching Spanish thrillers and
exploring Toronto on her bike.

RELATED POSTS

 * Product Updates August 2021: Custom Branding
 * How to Hold a Virtual Town Hall: A Complete Guide
 * How To Improve Internal Communication in 2021

Book your personalized 15-minute demo with ContactMonkey

Book My Demo

 * Linked In
 * Facebook
 * twitter



PRODUCTS

 * Internal Communications
 * Outlook Design Service
 * Sales Tool
 * On-demand Demo



FEATURES

 * Email Template Builder
 * Employee Feedback
 * Send Employee Emails
 * Gmail Sending
 * Outlook Sending
 * Email Analytics



RESOURCES

 * Blog
 * Help Center
 * Customers
 * Ebooks
 * Webinars
 * Blog Subscription



COMPANY

 * About
 * Careers
 * Contact Us
 * Terms of Service
 * Privacy
 * Security
 * GDPR




Copyright 2021 ContactMonkey Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn