Hybrid is the way to go

(Third of four parts)

Even before the pandemic, traffic nightmares, bad roads, pricey fuel, slow internet speeds, insufficient transportation and communication infrastructure were already problems in the Philippines.

Pandemic lockdowns forced business, education, health, retail and life in general to migrate online, thus accelerating our digital backbone development, and giving a temporary respite to metro pollution.

But we have a long way to go, Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy told the National Academy of Science and Technology last July 2022, after presenting pertinent national data vis-à-vis those of our Asean neighbors, and detailed plans on the path ahead. (Disclosure: Uy is a longtime friend. He has a vision to improve digital literacy, hygiene, infrastructure in our country.)

After discussing the pros and cons of a work-from-home (WFH) setup in the last two weeks, I conclude that going hybrid appears to be the wisest path. Even as we pray for more normalcy, employers increasingly realize that there is no 100-percent going back to the old normal.

According to the 2021 PhilCare Wellness Index, 48.7 percent of Filipino workers prefer going hybrid, 35 percent prefer going onsite, while 16 percent prefer total WFH.

A month ago, in September 2022, the Inquirer and United Architects of the Philippines held the webinar “Work Where?” Vaughn Alviar sums up the gist of the webinar: “Failure to come to a solution amenable for everyone may lead to high and paralyzing turnovers and workers vacating their posts, feeling underserved or that they could do better. To dodge that, the speakers [architects and designers] noted that work environments must offer options to employees, instead of imposing a mold.”

For instance, Architect Angelo Mañosa, head of their family firm, stressed what we discussed last week—that certain industries (medicine, for example) may find it extremely difficult to have their front-liners do WFH or even hybrid. But in their own company, Mañosa reported that workers were happy with hybrid arrangements, asserting, “Happy employees make for happier work environments.”

Architect Joel Luna, the founder of his eponymous company (and my fellow columnist in the Property section) said that “the ideas of thought leaders became the way forward—working outside the office and outside the 9-5 schedule. What has mattered and will matter beyond the pandemic nowadays are energy efficiency and increased outputs, and workplaces must transform for that.”

Luna emphasized that healthy environments were also sustainable ones. “In the end, the objectives of all companies are the same. We want to remain competitive, to deliver our best work, and therefore, we must make sure that our people are always motivated, that we look after their welfare, that they are inspired.”

The key to successful work arrangements lies with strong and wise leadership. According to the global consultancy firm Great Place to Work, before the pandemic, employees went for perks, but today, many millennials and members of Generation Z look for leaders who inspire trust and who can make people stay in the company and give their best.

“When times are tough, leaders have the greatest opportunity to build trust,” says advisor Julian Lute.

“Their ability to navigate the complexities of the business, communicate effectively, and bring people along is more visible. Consistent communication and supporting people in shifting work arrangements, all while taking care of customers, is a balancing act. “Camaraderie is like a secret weapon.

When employees experience the nexus of great work, a powerful mission, and shared values, productivity soars. Employees in great workplaces believe their co-workers see them as whole people, with family, hobbies and passions that they bring to work. When relationships are strong, employees feel energized and bring their skills to the table to collaborate on organizational goals.”

(Conclusion next week: How family businesses go hybrid)

Queena N. Lee-Chua is with the board of directors of Ateneo’s Family Business Center. Get her book “All in the Family Business” at Lazada or Shopee, or the ebook at Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks. Contact the author at [email protected].