Will the hybrid model slowly die?

Sure, I assumed the pendulum would swing back somewhat when it came to the great “return to the office.”

I figured some employers that offered fully remote options — such as GSoft in Montreal — might change their minds and push for a return of one or two days per week back in the workplace. I also thought some employers encouraging people to show up at the office only for meetings and teambuilding — such as Best Buy and Deloitte Canada — might eventually move to a more frequent schedule.

But I have to admit I’m surprised that some employers are actually considering, if not calling for, a full return to the office once the pandemic subsides (which is a whole other question as we’re now in our sixth wave in Ontario).

That’s the finding of this recent survey, which found that more than half of companies want employees back in the office full time. That’s 56 per cent of senior managers in Canada who say they will require their teams to be on-site once COVID-19-related restrictions are completely lifted.

Fewer will allow employees to follow a hybrid schedule where they can divide time between the office and another location (29 per cent) or give staff the complete freedom to choose where they work (13 per cent), found the survey by Robert Half.

Why? Not surprisingly, trust comes out on top (22 per cent) — despite the past two years showing that people can be equally productive at home and effective employers are those that focus on outcomes instead of hours at the laptop.

Also an issue? Communicating effectively with team members (21 per cent), finding time for team development (20 per cent), gauging workloads and helping staff avoid burnout (18 per cent) and effectively recognizing and rewarding employee accomplishments (18 per cent)

The findings match the sentiments of Laszlo Bock, Google’s chief of HR from 2006 to 2016, who recently said the company’s hybrid model will last maybe three to five years, according to Bloomberg.

Then, employees will be expected back five days a week: “Leaders find it really hard to lead virtually,” he said.

I honestly can’t imagine going to the office five days a week. With my previous employer, we could work from home one day and it was a welcome break from the usual office routine. Right now, it’s two days and it’s perfect.

The mental health benefits of not having to do a stressful, and costly, commute to start and end the day are huge. Whether it’s driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic or temperamental transit, two days a week is more than enough.

And the change of scenery is also important. While I enjoy seeing people at the office, working at a different desk, and taking in the energy of downtown, it’s also great to switch things up midweek and return to the home office. The change helps with my mood and keeps me motivated.

Not having to commute also means I can get some exercise each morning, which further energizes me for the workday.

So I’m not surprised to see that more than half (53 per cent) of those people currently working from home saying they would look for a new job with remote options if their company wanted them back at the office five days a week.

That’s up 20 points from one year ago when it was 33 per cent, finds the Robert Half survey of more than 500 professionals in Canada.

Right now, people appreciate the flexibility of working from home. Will that be the case two years from now? Five years? I’m really not sure.

But the hybrid model seems like a perfect compromise and a win-win, so I’m hoping employers will get past their concerns to appreciate the benefits.