The Hybrid Work Dilemma: Balancing Equitable Environments and Avoiding Exclusion

The pandemic brought about a significant shift in the workplace landscape, with many companies transitioning to remote work arrangements. For many women and people of colour, this provided a more flexible and comfortable work environment, free from the isms they might face in traditional offices. However, as companies plan for a return to the office, a dilemma arises: how can they create a successful environment for all employees while avoiding perpetuating existing issues of exclusion?

One area of focus is hybrid working, where employees work from home for a certain number of days and are required to come into the office for the rest. While this may seem like a good compromise, it can exacerbate the problem of being overlooked or left out of informal office meetups, which are vital for networking and career advancement.

To address this, organisations need to do two things: first, make the presence days worthwhile by organising critical meetings on those days so that employees, particularly women and people of colour, are not missing out on informal opportunities. Second, change the culture to encourage employees to want to come back to the office. This involves being intentional about what those days look like and making the presence days feel like a value add rather than a step backward.

It's crucial to be intentional and make exceptions for anyone on holiday, but the organisation needs to leverage the time when employees are present in the office, especially since many may feel reticent about returning. If not, it will seem like the company is forcing employees to come back without any real value add, which does not engender engagement or create an inclusive culture.

If companies aim to create an equitable and inclusive environment, they must engage employees and make them feel comfortable, not put under pressure. How companies go about implementing a return to the office will determine how women and people of colour feel about being present in the workplace. It's not just about getting people back in the office; it's about creating a successful and equitable environment for all.