What Google’s hybrid work plan means for the future of remote work
What Google’s hybrid work plan means for the future of remote work
Following the re-introduction of some Google employees to the onsite work environment last month, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a letter to all employees yesterday informing them of the company's adoption of a hybrid workplace plan.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai also stated that 60% of Google employees would work a few days a week in the office, while 20% would work in new locations and 20% would work from home.
Google closed its offices early last year, intending to reopen in September. That, however, was not possible, Pichai's letter stated that for the past year, a team within Real Estate and Workplace Services (REWS) has been reimagining a hybrid workplace in which the majority of Googlers spend three days in the office and two days working wherever they are most productive.
He believes this is the right time to introduce the hybrid workplace plan due to the impact of COVID-19 on Googlers and the benefits of collaborating online and onsite.
Global technology giants' decisions about workplace dynamics frequently have a ripple effect on the global technology ecosystem. In 2020, it was unsurprising to see many African startups follow suit after Facebook, Google, and Twitter announced physical office closures in response to the pandemic.
COVID-19, according to a recent study, prompted some African businesses to implement remote work — a previously unthinkable occurrence. Following the lockdown, employees in the technology and technology-enabled industries had grown accustomed to working from home.
For example, Techpoint Africa utilized the hybrid workplace strategy prior to the pandemic. Allowing employees to work three days onsite and two days remotely increased productivity. They became completely isolated during the pandemic.
Remote Work
While working from home has become the norm for certain tasks in Africa, employees are attempting to strike the optimal work-life balance and equip themselves for work and remote collaboration.
However, remote work is not suitable for everyone, as it varies according to role and activity. As a result, a McKinsey study found that certain tasks are performed better in the office, even when they are performed remotely during a crisis.
Apart from office tasks, certain other activities may appear to be inconvenient when performed remotely. Nigerian parents and students complained about the quality of online education during the lockdown.
While research indicates that experienced technology and technology-enabled employees can be productive working from home, inexperienced employees may not. Additionally, it demonstrates how a well-designed work environment can enhance job performance and promote learning and companionship.
According to a Slack study, 72% of global workers prefer a mix of remote and office work. Perhaps Google's decision is motivated by Stanford University Professor Nicholas Bloom's research, which recommends working remotely twice a week to maximize productivity.
International Workplace Group (IWG) Managing Director for South Africa, Joanne Bushell, stated in a business report that the hybrid model benefits employees' mental health. Simultaneously, businesses develop the financial flexibility necessary to invest in their employees and expand their businesses.
Kobo360 — a technology-enabled digital logistics platform — and Daystar Power — a leading provider of hybrid solar energy solutions — have both adopted the hybrid work plan approach in Africa.
Pichai believes that work flexibility is the way of the future. However, are the four walls of an office or home sufficient to ensure productivity and work-life balance, or does a combination of the two suffice? Whether other technology companies will follow Google's lead and implement a hybrid workplace strategy remains to be seen.
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