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 would go so far as to say that it is the shift toward more hybrid work arrangements.
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 pop a load of laundry in between meetings, and it saves a lot of travel time when you can talk to various colleagues online. That policy plan you’ve been putting off for weeks? Just work on it undisturbed without colleagues at your desk, and it’ll actually be done in no time. Working from home therefore boosts productivity by allowing you to work with greater focus and hold more efficient meetings; you actually get more done at home than at the office—and on top of that, the laundry is already clean!
“The fact that we might pop out for a quick errand isn’t really an issue,” says Jannes van der Velde, spokesperson for the General Employers’ Association of the Netherlands (Boorsma, 2025). In the U.S., there is much more oversight, especially now that many employees are returning 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, leading them to deliver better results, according to Jana Hazen of the Dutch General Employers’ Association (Boorsma, 2025). This autonomy is even beneficial for health and employee satisfaction, leading to a decrease in 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 for new employees, it can be valuable to highlight this in the job posting.
Benefits of hybrid work for employers
Working from home is more sustainable and less expensive than working in an office because it reduces the need for commuting, and offices can be designed to use less energy and require fewer workspaces. These are costs that, as an employer, you no longer have to incur to get the same work done.
The Impact of Hybrid Work on Diversity
Hybrid work makes organizations more attractive to a wider range 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.
However, there is a challenge: employees must be sufficiently digitally literate. For older employees or those with less experience using digital tools, this can be a barrier. Hybrid work can therefore also exclude people. It is 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, face-to-face interaction with colleagues is a key part of collaboration, and the creative processes involved are simply more productive in person than through a screen.
In addition, shifting your work-life balance also means finding a way to keep the two from overlapping too much when you work from home. Perhaps you’re working too much and for too long because you aren’t setting clear boundaries? Or are you struggling 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.
It quickly became clear during the pandemic that working remotely is particularly challenging for new employees. You miss out on the informal moments when you bond with your colleagues and the close working relationships that develop as a result. The onboarding process becomes much more difficult, even though research by the Aberdeen Group (2011) shows that effective onboarding makes employees 54% more productive.
So it’s no surprise that we don’t work entirely from home. Meeting in person at the office definitely has its benefits. In fact, we’ve seen that flexible working—the ability to choose and organize one’s own schedule—has brought significant advantages for both employees and the organization. A development like this—hybrid working—is neither a curse nor a blessing in and of itself; it’s all about how we approach it.
Tips for Successful Hybrid Work
Provide clarity
Clear communication within the team is crucial. Agree on when people will work and how they can be reached. Managers should specify what they expect and by when. Consider implementing a hybrid work policy that sets out these agreements in writing.
Create opportunities for interaction
Continue to invest in building relationships—both professional and personal. Schedule in-person meetings to foster 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 if they are expected to work there from time to time. Provide funding to 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 at home. If someone is struggling with digital tools, it’s helpful to see what support you can provide.
In conclusion
Hybrid work is a new trend that we’ve found to have many benefits. Still, it’s important to be aware of the potential drawbacks and to address or mitigate them using the tips above. Is hybrid work already part of your company culture? Or is this something you’d like to implement within your organization? You can get started right away!
Want to stay up to date on the latest news about work, the job market, and job openings? Follow us on LinkedIn and keep an eye on our job openings.
Enter your own content here.
.avif)
