A new breed of science-based assessments is the starting point. Organizations can quickly identify employees and potential hires who are ideal candidates for hybrid work. These technologies can quickly determine which employees have the initiative to work independently with little supervision. And, because they only look at a person’s true capabilities, they reduce bias and increase diversity by screening out biographical information, including race, gender, and age. Plus, they can identify ideal candidates who don’t have golden pedigrees.
According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2021, only 36 percent of African American workers 25 years and older have a college degree. These assessments break through the “paper ceiling;” by looking at what a person can do, not just what they have done, creating amazing opportunities to open doors for the disenfranchised and increase DEI.
Benefits of hybrid work for employers
Embracing hybrid work and the right technologies can significantly impact DEI in the workforce. Companies can build a more inclusive and successful workforce by breaking down barriers and creating opportunities. There are many benefits of hybrid work for employers:
- Access to a broader talent pool: By allowing employees to work from anywhere, companies can tap into a talent pool that extends beyond their zip code, which naturally increases the diversity of their candidate pool and gives access to a broader range of skills and experiences.
- More informed hiring decisions: Science-based assessments can help employers make more informed hiring decisions by focusing on candidates’ capabilities rather than their background, education, or experience.
- Improved productivity and efficiency: By using collaboration tools, employers can keep their hybrid employees connected and productive. According to Forbes, hybrid workers are 30-40 percent more productive than their non-hybrid counterparts.
- Better management of hybrid workers: HR tools can help employers track attendance, manage help desk tickets, and create recognition systems.
- Cost savings: Hybrid work can reduce overhead costs for employers, such as office space rental and utilities, and will also allow employees to save money on transportation and other expenses. According to the Telework Workplace Savings Calculator, employers could save $20,000 per year for each employee who works remotely full-time.
- Increased organizational development: According to Harvard Business Review, creating a learning culture and offering more online learning opportunities can improve employee engagement and retention by 30-40 percent. Organizations can also create a positive company culture, increase opportunities, and boost employee morale, enabling them to attract top talent. Enhancing employees’ skills and knowledge also improves their job performance.
- Increased retention: Forbes found that hybrid work environments can reduce turnover by as much as 12 percent and, according to Lorman, online learning opportunities increase employee retention by 30-50 percent.
Benefits of hybrid work for employees
Employees now expect organizations to provide flexibility in the workforce, including the opportunity to work remotely at least part of the time. The good news is that companies benefit significantly from this new labor market trend. There are many benefits of hybrid work for employees, too:
- Access to a broader pool of job opportunities: Hybrid work enables employees to apply for jobs outside their local area, expanding their career prospects and increasing job satisfaction.
- Enhanced Career Development: With the ability to work from anywhere, employees can work with a more diverse group of people and gain exposure to different cultures and experiences. This can enhance their career development, increasing job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Improved work-life balance: By allowing employees to work from anywhere, they can better balance work and personal responsibilities, leading to improved job satisfaction, morale, and lower stress. According to FlexJobs, 83 percent of hybrid workers reported lower stress levels than their in-office counterparts.
- Increased flexibility: Hybrid work offers employees more flexibility in their work schedule, which can lead to reduced stress and improved focus, productivity, and well-being.
- Increased job satisfaction: With hybrid work, employees can enjoy the benefits of both in-office and remote work, increasing their job satisfaction and overall happiness; Lorman found that hybrid workers reported feeling more satisfied with their jobs.
- Increased engagement – According to Indeed, employees participating in online learning programs feel more motivated to perform their jobs.
Getting started: Tools and technology
The number of remote work tools, including AI-driven technologies, continues to expand. Here are some of the essentials:
Assessment: Programs like MyInnerGenius can quickly identify candidates who will flourish in a hybrid work environment and increase DEI.
Chat: Programs like Slack allow employees to chat with each other, share files, and outline plans.
Projects: Trello allows teams to work together on projects, set timelines, and easily see what needs to get done
Web conferencing: Programs like Zoom and Webex make it easy to host virtual meetings
Whiteboarding: Mural and Miro make it easy for teams to ideate and design new programs and processes
Online learning: Companies like SkillsSoft host curated ready-to-use skills development programs
Attendance trackers: For employees who are paid or billed hourly, tools like AttendanceBot make time tracking it easy to record attendance automatically
Help Desk: Tools like OfficeAmp let any employee raise a ticket
File sharing: Cloud-based programs like Box and Dropbox allow employees to instantly share files and free up space on local computers while ensuring company files are safe and secure
Rewards: Programs like Bonusly let you create a hybrid points-based recognition system
Hybrid work is here to stay, and the sooner organizations embrace it fully, the sooner they will receive the unimaginable benefits a hybrid workforce can provide — and increase their diversity at the same time.
