The hybrid workplace is the innovation in the office workplace scenario. It has developed vastly in the last decade. The pandemic restricted standard connectivity and interactions in the physical world.
The transition from a conventional workplace to a hybrid workplace happened during the pandemic. This has increased the risks in the working style of the companies. Improper planning and not utilizing the right software are the primary reasons for the increased risk of such occurrences.
A flexible work schedule is a panacea for many problems the conventional workplace faces, like low productivity, high cost of management, etc. But if not properly used, it might create new threats in your workplace.
In this blog, we will address seven possible risks arising from improper utilization of this new-era workspace and give some alternate solutions to solve this problem.
Seven risks of a hybrid workplace
The hybrid workplace is here to stay, given the market’s constant evolution. But the catch is that executing this plan without proper thinking can endanger the organization’s work, causing several new issues and risks.
1. Improper coordination and monitoring
A swift shift to this hybrid work management has led to the new risk of improper coordination between the team members. That might lead to the duplication of work or issues in the timely completion of work in the first place.
Often, work coordination does not reach the employees at the right time, and they are affected in the process. This tendency also increases the lethargy among the workers, who may need help maintaining the excellent morale they had in a conventional workplace.
2. Cyber security issues
This becomes one of the prime concerns of hybrid workplaces. The companies’ sensitive information is prone to much higher risks if everything happens in a virtual phase.
Surveys say there has been a multifold increase in unethical hacking in the USA in the past few years. Ransomware and phishing are also increasing considerably. Hybrid workplaces have a higher risk in this aspect.
Around one-third of employees tend to pick up bad cyber security habits when they work from home; this is the primary reason for such risk. Critical supply systems and vital information are put under crisis, which can affect the company badly. There is also increased insider trading due to the hacking of financial companies, which is a high risk for the whole market.
3. Increased risk of fraudulent activities
There is a higher risk of fraudulent activities in the hybrid work environment. Opening shell companies are much easier than before. Fraud in procurement and services is increasing nearly three times. However, this incidence is higher in the Asia Pacific region. This can also be translated into the North American area anytime soon.
2. Health-related risks
A hybrid workplace requires employees to constantly connect with the team and work environment. This can significantly increase their stress level. This can cause several lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, etc.
There is also an increased risk of eye-related issues and joint pains due to poor ergonomics. The lack of physical correspondence also has increased the incidence of obesity among several employees, which is also a leading cause of several ailments.
3. Inability to experiment
In this new work environment, the workers follow a similar work style and activities. However, there are restrictions on the ability to experiment with and innovate new models. For example, they will have to work with blindfolded horses as per the harness movement, which will reduce the company’s adaptability capacity.
Experimentation is the focal point of sectors like finance and technology. Technological updates and constant training are complex in the hybrid work environment, which will reduce companies’ adaptability.
A survey says there has been a 16% increase in iterations and changes made in the process among organizations with lead productivity. Companies that lack this will need to catch up in their productivity.
4. Erosion of organizational culture and cohesion
The cohesion an organization tends to possess is one of the valued possessions of any company. The movement to a hybrid space leaves a considerable blank here. This will affect the employees’ morale and the company’s productivity in the long run.
They will need help managing the issues as a team. People will work on separate islands, and the coordination of the work cannot be done as effectively as before.
5. Confusions in workplace management
Numerous software applications are now in place to help with the new work environment, such as desk booking software, desk hoteling, meeting room booking software, etc. When these have not collaborated and coordinated, it leads to confusion using the office space.
Improper employee training and a lack of updates affect workflow in a hybrid work environment. This might also affect the coordination and collaboration between different company departments.
A workable solution
Risks and issues are inevitable in any new development. One cannot avoid all the risks available. When the risk is higher, the gain is also greater. The organization should plan things beforehand and constantly tweak them according to the new changes. It must also have an excellent organizational policy to deal with future issues—consultation with the employees to introduce a new user interface if necessary.
With all these risks being mentioned, what could be the accessible solution to all these issues? Choosing the right software solutions necessary for the new flexible work schedule. This will reduce cyber security risks and enhance coordination within the company.
There is also an added advantage of constant monitoring through employee experience software, which can help the company retain the best talents available. However, proper planning and implementation of this software and systems are more important to avoid all these risks.
If you want risk-free solutions for your hybrid workplace to increase productivity and employee morale, contact WorkInSync.