What is a hybrid workforce and how to create a culture that supports them

More than half of remote-capable employees expect hybrid work options, according to a recent Gallup poll. For companies choosing to adopt or continue with a hybrid work model, their next big challenge is building a strong, engaging work culture that supports their teams. Research shows that a poor company culture reduces productivity and is a leading cause of employee attrition. But, by cultivating a positive culture, companies can retain hybrid employees and support their productivity—whether they’re in the office or remote.

So, what exactly defines a hybrid work culture? In this blog post, we’ll explore the building blocks that can help sustain and strengthen your company culture in a hybrid model. 

Why is company culture important to the hybrid workforce?

Hybrid employees have high expectations—they want to work somewhere they feel comfortable, supported, and connected to their colleagues no matter if they’re in the office or working from home. By understanding and addressing employee needs in a hybrid environment, you can foster a company culture that helps your business and employees thrive in several key ways:

• Connection. A strong culture helps hybrid employees build meaningful connections with their work and team, helping them feel a sense of belonging
• Alignment. Clear cultural norms help to guide employee behaviors and align them with your company values. This alignment fosters consistency, trust, and collaboration, which are especially important in a hybrid workforce where folks have less face-to-face interaction
• Attraction and retention. A compelling culture attracts talent and keeps employees engaged, which is especially important in a competitive job market
• Performance and revenue. A supportive culture boosts performance, reduces turnover, and can increase business revenue

How to sustain company culture for a hybrid workforce

Building and sustaining a strong company culture requires substantial effort—and adapting that culture for a hybrid workforce demands even more. To create a thriving culture inclusive of your hybrid workforce, be sure to incorporate these five key elements: 

1. Communication

In a hybrid work environment, communication needs to be more flexible. While in-person meetings work well when everyone’s in the office, hybrid teams rely on asynchronous communication to keep everyone connected.

Encourage remote employees to be effective remote partners by prioritizing timely responses, maintaining clear communication, and being proactive about project updates. Providing tools for seamless collaboration—like hybrid scheduling tools, project management software, and messaging apps—will help remote and onsite team members stay aligned and engaged, no matter where they’re working. 

2. Engaging hybrid events

A great company culture fosters opportunities for employees to bond and have fun together. In the past, in-person happy hours worked, but with a hybrid team, you need to be more creative to engage both onsite and remote employees.

For example, hosting a movie night can include everyone—remote workers can join via Zoom and watch the movie on their own screen. Organizing a movie night in the office can be simple: clear out a space, set up chairs for those who register, and sync your video and audio equipment. Other fun ideas include trivia nights, stand-up comedy, or cooking classes. Just be sure to provide all necessary materials and meeting information for both in-office and remote teams to ensure everyone can participate.

3. Work-life integration

Work-life integration differs from work-life balance by recognizing that work and personal life often overlap, especially when employees work from home. This approach is crucial because data shows that many employees struggle with balancing the two. In fact, 54% of global employees feel overworked, and 20% say their employers seem not to care about it.

To support work-life integration for your hybrid team, encourage remote employees to set boundaries that help them balance work and personal time effectively. Supporting them in managing their schedules will help them maintain focus and well-being, which are essential for building strong company culture in a hybrid environment.

4. Equal opportunity and growth

Hybrid culture requires management to establish and promote equal opportunities for all hybrid employees. Remote employees may feel left out of work events and promotional opportunities because of their location. Employees who feel disengaged will struggle to contribute to team efforts and achieve personal goals.

To curb this issue, companies should provide remote employees with the same opportunities for career development and personal growth that in-person employees enjoy. This task is not an easy one, but skilled managers can offer regular career development conversations, virtual networking opportunities, and frequent check-ins that help employees feel supported in their professional advancement.

5. Dynamic workplace design

Creating a dynamic workplace—one that offers flexible, adaptable spaces—supports onsite employees while enhancing the hybrid work model overall. By providing environments that cater to different work styles, onsite employees can work in ways that promote comfort and productivity, which in turn make collaboration and engagement with remote coworkers smoother. Here are some elements to include to make your space more dynamic:

• Workspace variety. Provide a mix of open spaces, private rooms, and adjustable workstations to support different work styles and team needs. When onsite employees have the right environment for the task at hand, they can collaborate more effectively with remote team members and build stronger connections.
• Adaptable furniture. Incorporate furniture that can be easily moved or reconfigured for hybrid team meetings so teams can seamlessly transition between in-person or hybrid meetings. For example, adjustable tables and chairs that can be easily rearranged ensure that teams can quickly pivot between in-person and virtual meetings.
• Hybrid-ready meeting spaces. Design meeting rooms that can function for both in-person and virtual attendees, integrating the necessary technology (such as video conferencing tools and screen-sharing setups) so remote employees can fully participate.

By incorporating these elements, you can create a dynamic workplace that fosters a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and adaptability so employees feel connected and supported wherever they work.

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For more tips on how to create a thriving hybrid workplace, check out our ebook, The workplace manager’s guide to planning for hybrid work.