Common rules are the key
If the rules for hybrid work are not clear, the uncertainty of the situation can increase the mental strain. It is therefore very important to clarify the ground rules in the work community. Start by agreeing on at least the following basics:
- When and where the work is done?
- What communication channel is used to each purpose?
- When you are supposed to be available?
Remember two kinds of ergonomics
In order for hybrid work to work as well as possible, it is important to ensure that the working conditions are in order both at home and in the office. Go through the ways in which you can support the smooth running of work and the preconditions for well-being at work at your home office as well. Does everyone have working connections? Can you support getting an ergonomic remote workstation?
There are fewer natural breaks and movement in remote working when you don’t have to walk to the printer or meeting room. It also matters what kind of breaks you take. Sitting and surfing in social media doesn’t refresh the body or mind. A quality break helps to take a break from work for a moment and activates the body and mind. One way to motivate your employees to take more active breaks is with Cuckoo wellbeing app.
When thinking about the ergonomics of work, one will often think of a person’s relationship to their operating environment only from the perspective of the body. It would be equally important to look at cognitive ergonomics, that is, from a brain perspective. The goal of cognitive ergonomics is the efficiency and smoothness of operations and thus the increase in wellbeing. Remote working messages and notifications can come more than in everyday office life, so it is necessary to organize a peace of mind for the brain. The good side of hybrid work is that there are fewer colleagues around, so it’s easier to determine when you are available for contacts.