Top Hybrid Work Myths Debunked

Starting March 2020, the world unintentionally participated in the largest remote work experience across the globe. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations were forced to allow their employees to work from home for the safety of their workforce. The unintentional experiment disproved the longest-running myth about remote work – that you can’t trust employees to do their jobs if you can’t see them. Instead, the pandemic proved that productivity is not tied to the office.

While the majority of workforces have reported higher productivity levels the past year, organizations are still wary of allowing remote work going forward as the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end. In Gartner’s latest research report, they identified 7 hybrid work myths and the reality of the future of our workforce.

Myth 1: The existing remote work strategy will work for a hybrid workforce. In reality, a hybrid workforce model goes beyond remote work. Most organizations had to develop their remote work strategy overnight. Hybrid work is a more long-term strategy that needs to be developed to meet all organizational goals.

Myth 2: Employees are less productive outside the office. This was proven to be false over the past year as most employees reported higher than normal productivity levels while working from home.

Myth 3: Organizations need to monitor and measure what remote employees are doing. Employees thrive when given flexibility. A hybrid model allows employees to work a mixture of remote and in-person to work where they feel more productive.

Myth 4: Jobs cannot be done remotely. The past year has proved that the majority of jobs can be done remotely. For those that cannot, the hybrid work model allows the flexibility of completing responsibilities in-person and at home.

Myth 5: In-person contact is needed to sustain company culture. During the past year, the top cultural values have been trust and flexibility – both of which do not need a physical location to be achieved.

Myth 6: Hybrid workforce models hurt diversity and inclusion efforts. A hybrid work model helps diversity efforts. Organizations can attract better and more global talent with a flexible working model.

Myth 7: A hybrid workforce model duplicates IT infrastructure. Organizations need to continually revamp its infrastructure. Whether remote, in-person or hybrid, technology changes need to be made.