11 Ways a Hybrid Workplace Makes Life Better for Businesses and Staff

It’s no surprise that hybrid working has become the standard arrangement for many remote-capable workers. In fact, hybrid employees now comprise 51% of the US workforce, up from 18% in 2020. And it’s easy to see why, with work-from-home benefits offering more flexibility than on-site working.

There are plenty of benefits of remote working (Bye, bye, rush hour! See ya never, suit pants!), but like all modes of work, it can have its drawbacks.

Around 76% of hybrid employees noted an improved work-life balance as a top advantage, while 64% cited a more efficient use of their time throughout the week. With the lines between home and office blurred, employers must reflect on what they can offer to enhance employee engagement and satisfaction, and ultimately improve company culture. A strong contender for this? The hybrid work model.

In this guide, we’ll look at how employees and employers can equally benefit from remote or hybrid work models today—and in years to come.

What is a hybrid work model?

A hybrid work model is a flexible working arrangement that combines remote and in-office work. Employees can divide their time between working from home and working from a physical office or company workspace. It’s a people-first approach, providing employees with greater flexibility in the workplace and the option to work anywhere they can be productive.

Types of hybrid work models

Hybrid working is what you make it—the idea is to embrace work-from-home benefits while also establishing clear communication, expectations, and trust. Here are the most common types of hybrid work models.

• Fixed hybrid: The employer sets a predetermined, consistent schedule for in-office and remote days, such as four days in the office and one day remotely.
• Flexible hybrid: Employees decide their location and working hours without a fixed schedule, based on their preferences and work needs.
• Office-first: The office is the default location, with employees expected to be there most of the time and working remotely only occasionally.
• Remote-first: A remote working environment is the default, and the office is used as an optional hub for meetings, collaboration, or specific in-office activities.
• Team-designated: Teams or departments determine their own hybrid work schedule based on their specific work and collaboration style.

The hybrid work model extends the workplace beyond the four walls of the office. Instead, workers can choose to work in coworking spaces, from home, or in the office, however works best for them. Hybrid work can be split in several ways, including:

• Split-week: For example, three days in the office and two days remote
• Alternating weeks: Working a full week in the office and a full week remotely
• Staggered hours/days: On-site attendance during specific core hours

6 benefits of hybrid work for companies

While the hybrid work model brings considerable benefits to employees, it offers several advantages for businesses, too.

1. Fewer sick days

We’ve all been there—feeling under the weather but still preparing to go into the office. Facing the morning commute while unwell can be daunting. But one advantage of the hybrid work model is that you can work at your own pace in an environment that’s comfortable to you. If you feel well enough to work, that is.

Having the option to work remotely can also stop the spread of illnesses, something that launched working from home into the spotlight to begin with and can therefore ensure the workforce stays strong.

Working from home can also mean better physical health for employees, and that often means reduced absenteeism. Employees in a remote working environment often have more flexibility than in-office workers to eat well, exercise, schedule doctor visits, and adopt improved self-care habits.

2. Larger talent pools

Adjacent to the hybrid work model, one of the biggest benefits of remote working for a business is that it broadens your talent pool.

By opening up the talent pool to virtual workers, you can hire the best candidate for the job based on skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role, rather than whether they can get to your physical office every morning.

Plus, if those virtual workers end up moving closer to the office in the future, a hybrid work model can allow them to combine on- and off-site work—a win-win.

3. Opportunities to invest in meaningful benefits

The hybrid work model also offers employers the chance to reimagine employee benefits. By moving away from ping-pong tables and office snacks—as fun as they are—companies can shift to more meaningful benefits that employees care about.

BambooHR’s 2025 Compensation Trends report found that 85% of employees want additional benefits beyond what their current employers offer, and 63% would take a pay cut for specific perks. Benefits such as mental health support and a more flexible work schedule help companies increase employee engagement, boost loyalty, and attract top talent.

4. A smaller carbon footprint

Many employers are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and increase sustainability, and remote and hybrid work is one of the most effective ways to achieve that.

Employees working from home don’t have to commute daily, meaning fewer cars on the road—and fewer emissions out there polluting our air. Research from IWG suggests that 84% of businesses have reduced carbon emissions and energy usage since adopting the hybrid work model.

Remote and hybrid work also often means fewer paper processes, and shifting to a paperless HR department is an excellent way to go green.

5. Major cost savings

There’s no denying this one: both employers and their employees save big when they make the switch to hybrid work. Based on conservative estimates, the typical US employer could save over $700 billion annually, which averages about $11,000 per employee per year.

For businesses in particular, the hybrid work model can save on:

• Rent and utilities
• Security costs
• Relocation costs
• Cleaning services
• Office equipment costs
• Tax costs

But there are less obvious savings, too. When workers aren’t spending money on lunches out, nice work clothes, and random trips to the store on the way home, the shift quickly adds up.

6. The link between remote work and productivity

Remote and hybrid employees have more agency to manage their time more effectively in a remote working environment. But whether this increases overall productivity depends on a few factors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that while remote work led to lower job turnover and increased job satisfaction, productivity levels can vary. However, when assessing individual metrics such as phone/video calls made and the number of emails written, the figures remain largely positive.

As we’ve mentioned, the cornerstone of a successful hybrid work model is communication and trust, and employers should feel confident that their remote workers are productive. According to Gallup, 54% of managers strongly agree they trust their team to be productive when working remotely.

5 benefits of hybrid work for employees

From split-week to staggered days, the hybrid work model largely benefits employees, offering an improved work-life balance, cutting commuting costs, and much more.

1. You’re no longer alone

Once upon a time, remote working was exactly that—remote. Now, we have a wealth of communication channels at our fingertips, and we’re (for the most part) comfortable and adept at using them.

Team communication platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Slack have made it easy for employees and their employers to keep the lines of communication open. Businesses can feel confident that their teams are still connecting and working collaboratively, while employees working remotely don’t feel isolated and lonely.

Hybrid working models also offer employees the flexibility to prioritize the place where they enjoy working most. While some might choose to take advantage of the traditional office life, those who prefer carrying out tasks from home can opt to do more days in a remote working environment.

2. You can create the perfect workstation

In an office, employees often have no control over how to decorate their space or what temperature to set the thermostat to. Optimum comfort is always in question, especially in shared office spaces. In fact, that temperature debate alone has long been a battleground among office workers.

Working from home, on the other hand, unlocks the ability for employees to create the perfect remote working environment. Whether it’s a standing desk by the window, having the air-con on high, or placing pictures of the family around a brightly-painted room. And hybrid workers can take advantage of this arrangement too, knowing they won’t have to work in the same environment five days a week if they don’t want to.

3. You'll race toward pressing deadlines in comfort

Jobs have deadlines. Whether it’s a project that needs to be submitted by the end of the week or a pressing email that needs to be sent by the end of the day, deadlines are inescapable. But having the right remote working environment can help you pin a task down.

Meeting a deadline while working from home can be more comfortable and done with ease. If a worker knows they’re an early bird, they may wish to start a little earlier to meet the deadline and then finish earlier. Or, if they’re a night owl, they may choose to work a little later and then finish early the following day.

For some, working from home can make it difficult to unplug and keep work and home life separate. Employees shouldn’t be working over their expected hours often, but when a deadline needs to be met, employees can get their work done in a comfortable and familiar environment.

4. You can work from home—or Bora Bora

For many digital nomads—and depending on your company’s specific policy—wherever they lay their laptop is their home. Without the ties of a physical office, many hybrid and remote employees are taking advantage of the freedom to work from anywhere, whether it be their hometown, the suburbs, or the beaches of Bora Bora.

Thanks to the remote and hybrid work model, the possibilities are endless. According to Flexjobs, 37% of respondents would happily relocate for a permanent remote work job with benefits such as:

• Improved quality of life
• Reduced cost of living
• Better climate
• Change of scenery
• Closer to family or friends
• Access to better schools

But before you make that leap, it’s best to review your company’s policy around remote work in another country, and any rules in place relating to tax.

5. You're more likely to achieve a better work-life balance

According to a recent survey, among employees who prefer remote work, nearly all (90%) cite flexibility and work-life balance as major benefits. Employees who prefer to work from home often appreciate that it facilitates better quality of life and, for parents with kids, helps with navigating childcare.

Forbes also notes that the daily grind of travel often leads to lost time, stress, and a diminished work-life balance. Given that the average one-way commute for Americans is 26 minutes, commutes can contribute to stress, and decrease motivation and burnout—ultimately affecting job performance.

How to maintain a positive remote working environment

Of course, hybrid and remote working have their advantages and disadvantages. Working in your slippers is wonderful, but comfort sometimes comes at a cost. To take full advantage of all the benefits of remote work, there are some things to consider.

Promote healthy work-life hours

It can be easy for employees to skip their lunch because they feel comfortable. While this might not be an issue on the odd days, when done regularly, it can skew the work-life balance. This can trigger poor job satisfaction and burnout, leading to time off. Instead, promote healthy conversation around the need for breaks and how they can be factored into the working day.

Simple ways to have a break from the desk include:

• Taking 10-minute screen breaks when needed
• Going for a walk at lunch
• Eating your lunch away from the desk

Keep lines of communication open

Being able to work from home has its benefits, but it means nothing if your remote workers are siloed. To prevent anyone from feeling lonely and isolated, remote team communication is a priority, whether it’s encouraging remote employees to video call 10 minutes each day to have a non-work-related chat, or planning weekly manager one-to-ones. If any team member shows signs of becoming distant, try to reach out sooner rather than later to support their mental health.

Acknowledge temptations

If your remote working environment happens to be at home, you’re bound to have more temptations: it’s where we keep all our favorite things, after all. It’s okay to enjoy these temptations in small doses, and they can be easily factored into the working-from-home life.

• Use the commute time you’ve now got back to watching an episode of your favorite show
• Prep dinner at lunch to save you time in the evening
• Vacuum the living room during a screen break
• Tell friends and family you can meet them as soon as you’ve finished work, now that you don’t need to commute home first

Encourage employees to find the perfect working environment

Whether it’s hybrid or fully remote, encouraging the team to find a space that works for them is essential.

If hybrid is an option, ensure employees have a laptop so they can easily move between workstations. If it’s a fully remote working environment, consider providing each team member with the correct office furniture. A desk, chair, and extra screens (if needed) should be provided to ensure they can do their job to the best standard without being hindered. Don’t forget, the kitchen table is meant for mealtime, not filing reports.

Promote team days

Working from home (WFH) doesn’t have to mean never seeing your team in person again. Regular team catch-ups and remote team-building exercises are a good way to keep morale high and teams motivated. If getting together in person isn’t an option, organizing virtual team get-togethers can be a good way to build a positive work environment without breaking the budget.

Embracing work-from-home benefits

Remote and hybrid work models are seemingly here to stay, and they’re proving very popular. There are plenty of reasons for this, and with thoughtful planning, companies and their employees will save money, enjoy greater work-life balance, and positively impact the environment.

So next time you’re tempted to groan about another Teams meeting, think of the extra cash this arrangement is putting back in your pocket—and cherish those comfy sweats that would  never  slide in the office.