Why hybrid work schedules fail

5 min read

No matter what they try, some organizations can’t seem to make hybrid work… Work. What makes it hard for teams of hybrid colleagues to coordinate their schedules? As it turns out, it’s not an easy task at all. Let’s explore a few common complaints. 

I don’t know if it’s worth coming to the office today 

The first challenge with hybrid work schedules is a lack of coordination among team members. One day, your colleague is at the office. The next, they don’t show up at all. It’s hard to plan your work when you don’t know if key people will be around. Some companies try to fix this with mandatory in-office days, which destroys the autonomy and flexibility that hybrid work brings to the table.  

I keep forgetting to tell my team I’m working remotely 

We all lead busy lives. And sometimes, plans change. Sending a message to your team members about your sudden work-from-home day isn’t always your top priority. But of course then everyone at the office will wonder where you are. Especially the people that came to the office just for you. Finding people at work already eats up time, and hybrid work schedule without rules can cause even more confusion.  

I’m always alone at the office 

An office space that is poorly aligned with your hybrid work strategy can discourage employees from attending. Every organization will want an office space that fits their work policies, which means making long-term smart choices about your real estate—design, location, and size. For this, having holistic insights about occupancy and usage patterns is a superpower to fix your hybrid workplace by revealing when it’s time to upgrade, downsize, or change the layout of an office space. 

My team needs me too much for me to work remote 

Some people need to be at the office 5 days a week. Some don’t. This large imbalance between teams is common and creates equally imbalanced workplace policies. Strong policies about attendance in either direction often means that one group is left unsatisfied and less productive. And navigating a hybrid work schedule as an employee become messier. 

I don’t understand our company’s hybrid work policy 

Unfortunately, many companies have a misalignment between employers and employees about office attendance. 60% of companies want employees at the office 3+ days a week, but only 51% report that level of attendance (CBRE). Either expectations are not communicated clearly, or not taken seriously. And without clear, respected expectations, it’s hard to feel committed to your hybrid work schedule.  

Coordinate your hybrid work schedules 

In our opinion, employees need a simpler way to keep each other up to date about their attendance from week to week. Nimway Team schedule is a feature that allows employees to easily indicate whether they’ll be in the office or working remotely. This transparency makes it simple for teams to coordinate their office days, ensuring that employees are present when it matters most. 

Want hybrid coordination in a click? 

 

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