The Future Of Work Is Hybrid, Human And Here To Stay
MASSIMO RAPPARINI is CIO and Head of CX at Logitech, responsible for global IT function and customer support for Logitech brands worldwide.
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The past two and half years have demonstrated the evolution of how work can be done, and the world now sees that a different way of working is possible. Many workers, especially younger generations, now prefer and expect remote or hybrid working environments that foster a mix of in-office, remote and nomadic, untethered (desk-hopping) working arrangements.
However, most companies cannot operate 100% remotely without influencing productivity and innovation—which means leaning into ingenuity, equity, inclusivity and flexibility through hybrid models in order to enable agility and optimize performance.
With the future being now and hybrid work no longer an exception but a reality, businesses I speak with are attempting to make the shift from pandemic-response thinking to proactively creating the next iteration of their working environment. The future of work encompasses teams flexing their time and location to conduct business, students working and learning beyond the classroom and even creators working on their craft outside of a studio. Additionally, there is a heightened interest in sustainability, and the beneficial role hybrid work can play in aiding with expanding diversity and inclusion opportunities for employees and communities—this is a major priority for many of my peers from around the world.
We know there is no simple solution, and companies are grappling with the reality that people want different things from their employers today; they desire to be untethered, more authentic and make a greater impact at work. This shift tells us that the future of work starts with humans, and organizations need to look at building their workplace environments and processes focused on enhancing capabilities and connection.
At Logitech, we are no different. While we are a leader in helping to empower organizations with tools and services to develop a hybrid model, we have also been learning along the way. We were a “work from anywhere” culture prior to the pandemic, but true hybrid had us rethinking everything. For example, we are reconfiguring our workplaces to be hybrid-first. We initially struggled with “desk wars” and those wanting to hang on to the past, thinking that everyone needed a dedicated and assigned spot. This evolved once we reconsidered that the benefit of the workplace has fundamentally changed.
While there are many scenarios in which an employee’s role or unique work task requires them to be in the office and lends itself to “focused work,” employees are now looking for us to provide meeting and collaboration spaces as the primary benefit of coming into the office. These spaces are all video-enabled to ensure no one is left out—keeping in mind that since we are truly a global company, not everyone can just pop into the office for in-person collaborative gatherings.
The pandemic proved that some work could effectively and productively be done outside of the office, so employers offering a space for this work is no longer a benefit. In fact, I would argue that in some cases, it is a detractor—especially when considering the tax of commuting to personal time, productivity and the environment.
Deep connections can now be made through digital and virtual experiences. Empowered with the right tools, people can achieve, create and enjoy more in collaboration with each other—all in the service of the work to be done. This has always been true but not always thought of in the context of a professional work setting—until now.
The future of work is an opportunity for all of us to innovate on behalf of all of our people and all of our spaces. Every challenge that people are struggling with at work is an innovation opportunity. For all people, provide solutions for diverse needs and environments. Support productivity and wellness anywhere with tools like customizable keyboards, docking stations, mice, headsets and webcams. In all spaces, drive better collaboration, support equity, and build a culture at home, in the office and in between with intuitive videoconferencing solutions.
However, there are some challenges that organizations could face when embarking on a hybrid work journey, including how to (re)design offices and workplaces, how to incentivize workers to come to the office and how to maintain a team culture and build cohesion when many people work remotely. Organizations can address these challenges by investing resources in measuring actual office space usage, re-architecting the workspaces and workflows to make the office a worthwhile destination, and making it simple for users at every skill level to create more meaningful communication experiences—whether at home, on the road or in the office.
To start investing in the future of work, enterprises should work with employees to establish a mutually beneficial hybrid schedule to support the backbone of any workday: routine. When employees feel better, they have a tendency to do better. Be prepared to equip them with solutions that meet their evolving needs—from wireless connectivity to ergonomic well-being and beyond.
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