The hybrid work model guide challenges people to experiment with new ways of managing and organising work

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health media release 13 November 2024

The new Hybrid Work Model as a Success Factor guide argues that the hybrid work model is a significant workplace innovation enabled by digitalization. If properly managed, it can also become a success factor for many types of organizations and communities.

“Hybrid work forces us to develop management practices, operating methods and new, innovative ways to use technology. Even though it may feel challenging, we need to adopt a new way of thinking in Finnish work life in order to succeed in the international market,” says Research Professor Tuomo Alasoini from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

“No organization can find the keys to success by looking back in time. Hybrid work enables us to find new perspectives for innovations and the development of work life,” Alasoini adds.

Individual strategies for managing hybrid work

Every organization is different, and a single hybrid work model cannot be expected to suit everyone. However, all organizations should have their own strategy for managing hybrid work. Such a strategy needs to consider the following key questions:

• Amount of onsite work: Is a certain minimum amount of onsite work needed or do the hours make any difference?
• New working methods: Are the ways of working developed under the guidance of management or the employees themselves?

“It is beneficial to consider the work from the perspective of different work tasks. Performing certain work tasks remotely may sometimes be the most practical solution. Hybrid work can also be the most desirable working model for employees, even if it requires self-direction and a novel sense of responsibility,” says Specialist Researcher Marja Känsälä from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

“For employees, hybrid work has created new opportunities to fine-tune not only their work but also their personal life. This is also reflected in research as an increase in well-being at work. As the competition for skilled workforce intensifies in the future, hybrid work will become a significant attraction factor,” states Känsälä.

The office must be a positive experience

When the employer’s premises enable smooth work and interaction, they can strengthen work performance and well-being in addition to promoting onsite work.

“The office must support different work-related needs and enable smooth work.  Working in an office should be a positive experience for the employee, no matter how often they work there. A smooth working environment adds value to onsite work, and a good experience encourages returning to the office in the future as well,” summarises Senior Specialist Suvi Hirvonen.

In addition to a physical space, the office is also a social and cultural space. In hybrid work, these different functions should be combined into a well-functioning whole.

Read the guide (in Finnish)

• Hybridityömalli menestystekijänä. Opas hybridityön mahdollisuuksiin ja haasteisiin (Hybrid Work Model as a Success Factor. A guide to the opportunities and challenges of hybrid work) can be loaded from ttl.fi: Etätyö, hybridityö ja monipaikkainen työ
• The guide is based on the Why Come to the Office research project’s results. The project was implemented between 2023 and 2024 by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund.
• The project was carried out in co-operation with labour market organisations and five company and city organisations that participated in the project. During the course of the project, nearly one hundred hybrid workers were interviewed, organisation-specific surveys were carried out, organizations’ premises were analysed and joint development workshops were organized.
  
  

Further information

• Tuomo Alasoini, Research Professor, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tuomo.alasoini@ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)50 564 6140
• Marja Känsälä, Specialist Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, marja.kansala@ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)43 824 9511
• Suvi Hirvonen, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, suvi.hirvonen@ttl.fi, tel. +358 (0)50 535 3851