The Pros and Cons of Hybrid Work (and How to Make It Work)
Hybrid work has quickly become the norm—and it has a major impact on job satisfaction, productivity, and diversity. But what are the pitfalls? Discover the pros and cons, and learn how to make hybrid work a success.
From Crisis to Opportunity: Why Hybrid Work Is Here to Stay
The biggest change in the workplace over the past five years? We’d argue that it’s the shift toward more hybrid work.
Just over five years ago, we knew virtually nothing about Teams and Zoom, but now we can’t imagine our work lives without them. We were caught off guard by the coronavirus, and that has significantly changed the way we think about and approach work-life balance.
Because guess what? Working from home has its advantages! In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of hybrid work and offer tips on how to make it a success.
Benefits of hybrid work for employees
You’ve probably experienced some of these benefits firsthand. It’s ideal when you can quickly run a load of laundry between meetings, and it saves a lot of commute time when you can talk to various colleagues online. That policy plan you’ve been putting off for weeks? You can work on it undisturbed without colleagues at your desk, and before you know it, it’s actually done. Working from home therefore boosts productivity by allowing you to focus better and hold more efficient meetings; you actually get more work done at home than at the office—and on top of that, the laundry’s already done!
The fact that we might then quickly run an errand isn’t really such a big deal, according to Jannes van der Velde, spokesperson for the General Employers’ Association of the Netherlands (Boorsma, 2025). In the U.S., there’s much stricter oversight, and many employees are required to return to the office. In the Netherlands, we rely much more on trust; as long as people do their jobs well, it doesn’t really matter how or when they do it.
In fact, the ability to organize and manage one’s own work actually makes employees feel more engaged, which leads them to deliver better work, according to Jana Hazen, who is also with the General Employers’ Association of the Netherlands (Boorsma, 2025). This autonomy is even beneficial for health and employee satisfaction, which in turn reduces absenteeism. It also allows people with health issues to continue working from home so they can rest more and avoid infecting other colleagues. As long as they don’t unnecessarily push themselves to keep working, this flexibility is a great opportunity. It’s no coincidence that a good work-life balance ranks high on the priority list for 82 percent of Dutch people when it comes to their current or future jobs. So if you’re looking to hire new employees, it can be valuable to highlight this in your job posting.
Benefits of hybrid work for employers
Working from home is more sustainable and costs less than working in an office because it reduces the distance employees have to travel, and offices can be designed to use less energy and require fewer workspaces. As an employer, you no longer have to incur those costs to get the same work done.
The Impact of Hybrid Work on Diversity
Hybrid work makes organizations more attractive to a broader group of employees.
- The number of young mothers in the labor market has increased since the onset of the pandemic (Mathieu Steijn, VU Amsterdam, 2024).
- Informal caregivers and people with physical or mental disabilities will have more opportunities to participate.
On the other hand, there is a challenge: employees must have sufficient digital skills. For older employees or those with less experience using digital tools, this can be a barrier. Hybrid work can therefore also exclude people. It’s important that we remain mindful of this now that this new way of working is increasingly becoming the norm.
Disadvantages of hybrid work for employees
Hybrid work also has its pitfalls. For example, personal contact with colleagues is an important part of collaboration, and the creative processes involved are more productive in person than through a screen.
In addition, adjusting your work-life balance also involves figuring out how to keep those two areas from overlapping too much when you’re working from home. Perhaps you’re working too much and for too long because you’re not setting clear boundaries? Or, on the contrary, are you unable to get certain tasks done because your family takes up too much of your time when you’re at home? Finding a good work-life balance can be quite a challenge when working in a hybrid model.
Moreover, it quickly became apparent during the pandemic that working remotely is particularly challenging for new colleagues. You miss out on the informal moments when you get to know the people in your department and the direct lines of communication that result from them. The onboarding process is much more difficult, even though research by the Aberdeen Group (2011) shows that effective onboarding makes an employee 54% more productive.
So it’s not surprising that we don’t work entirely from home. Meeting each other at the office definitely has added value. We’ve seen that flexible work—the ability to make our own choices and organize our own schedules—has brought many benefits for both employees and the organization. A development like this—hybrid work—is neither a curse nor a blessing in and of itself; it’s all about how we handle it.
Tips for Successful Hybrid Work
Provide clarity
Clear communication within the team is crucial. Agree on where and when people will work and how they can be reached. Managers should specify what they expect and when. Consider a hybrid work policy that sets out these agreements in writing.
Create opportunities for interaction
Continue to invest in connection—both professional and informal. Schedule in-person meetings to foster a sense of connection and team spirit. Check in regularly with employees to see how their work-life balance is going.
Stay in touch online efficiently
Online meetings are more tiring than in-person ones. So ask yourself: Is this meeting really necessary? If a meeting is necessary, make sure to:
- a clear agenda,
- a moderator,
- agreements regarding speaking time and the use of mute.
Provide the necessary resources for working from home
Working from home can present practical and technical challenges. Make sure every employee has access to the right resources at home when they’re expected to work there from time to time. Allocate a budget to help set up a quiet workspace where employees can work comfortably and in a healthy manner. Or ensure that colleagues who do want to come into the office are equipped to work digitally with colleagues who are staying home. If someone is struggling with digital tools, it’s a good idea to see what kind of support you can provide.
In conclusion
Hybrid work is a new trend that has brought us many benefits. Still, it’s important to be aware of any potential drawbacks and to address or mitigate them using the tips above. Is hybrid work already part of your company’s culture? Or is this something you’d like to move toward with your organization? You can get started right away!
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