With the growing popularity of hybrid and remote work, both can seem like very appealing prospects.
The last few years have changed our understanding of what a company needs.
Some business models require constant in-person work. But more and more companies are realizing that a hybrid work vs fully remote option can work very well for them.
However, it is important to know the difference between the two. We’ll break down the key differences to help you understand which best suits you and your wants and needs.
Differences: Hybrid Work Vs Fully Remote
What Work Looks Like
Firstly, you need to understand the core difference between the two is what your work day looks like.
Remote work involves working without an office at all.
This gives you the freedom to choose from any of the best remote companies to work from. You can base yourself anywhere in the world, and even travel around while working.
On the other hand, hybrid work combines both in-person and remote elements.
There are two main frameworks for hybrid work. The one is providing employees the option to choose whether they come in or work from home.
The most common hybrid model is requiring employees to come in on certain days, or for a certain amount of days per work, and allows for remote work the rest of the time.
Office Space
Following on from this, one of the biggest differences between hybrid and remote work is the need for a physical office space.
While any company can have a physical office space, fully remote companies do not need one. There is no “coming into the office”, so there does not need to be an office to go to.
However, because hybrid work includes the option of coming into the office, there needs to be a physical office space.
One way it differs from completely in-person work is that the company can downsize its office space and save money.
However, hybrid workers are not able to move away from their work location in the same way that remote workers are able to.
Office Culture
With a hybrid work model, there is a greater degree of office culture. This is because people are spending time in the office together and this can be good for employee morale.
Getting to interact with people at work can be an important point of connection in our busy, work-dominated lives.
When it comes to fully remote work, there won’t be any physical interaction between employees, and this can contribute to a sense of isolation.
However, this can be reduced. Online meetings and communication platforms like Slack can help to create a community.
Remote workers can also form communities outside of work and develop a healthier work-life balance. Remote work certainly isn’t going anywhere, and companies need to adapt.
Flexibility
Not only is there more flexibility about your location, but there is also often a significant difference in working hours.
Hybrid companies tend to work with a more traditional 9-5 work schedule, although this is not true in all cases.
But, when it comes to companies with a remote working model, it is likely that you will have employees spread out across the world. This diversity can be good for the company.
But it also means that work has to be a lot more asynchronous. As a remote worker, you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck about working hours.
This does create the need for a greater sense of self-discipline. There are many tech advances and gadgets designed to help with getting the balance of WFH right.
Meetings
Meetings can look very different between remote and hybrid workplaces. With remote workplaces, meetings can be conducted online.
This means companies have to factor in time zones, and this often results in more asynchronous communication. Many “meetings that could have been emails” actually do become emails.
One of the concerns about employees working from home is how to monitor productivity. Luckily, there are many techniques to increase productivity for WFH employees.
With hybrid work, the employer has more flexibility about how to structure meetings. Some meetings can be conducted online, but others work better in person.
