A hybrid workforce in the Philippines wasn’t really considered as an option before until the pandemic. While there were some companies that practiced this, it wasn’t widely known to the rest of the world. Nowadays, this type of working set-up is implemented in many countries to keep businesses up and running while maintaining the health protocols mandated.
A hybrid workforce is defined as a system wherein employees can choose to work at home, in the office, or both. Teams can collaborate using project management apps like Asana and video conferences using Zoom and other related apps for work. This has been the reality for the working population ever since the world reverted to safer, non-contact labor. In this blog, we’ll be talking about the hybrid workforce in the Philippines.
Adjusting to The New Normal: Before Hybrid Workforce Philippines
At the start of the lockdown last year, many local and BPO companies helped their employees transition from office-based to home-based. Many challenges included computer equipment, integration of tools, network connectivity, noise pollution, establishing a proper working area, and keeping the kids out during duty hours.
Most Filipinos don’t have a stable internet connection nor a working area at home. Most employees struggled in the work from home (WFH) set-up. But as time goes, they were able to adjust and purchased back-up internet connections like pocket wifi or reloadable wifi modem.
Promoting vaccination and hazard pay is increasing the likelihood of Filipinos working onsite They also have the option to work at the office for certain days per week then back to work-from-home. This used to be the practice of employees who are in higher positions such as managers, site directors, CEOs, and other major ranks. Their burden includes heavy workload and safety. But no worries, they have a huge hazard pay!
Spearheading The New Normal: Hybrid Workforce Philippines
A year and a half after the pandemic started, most companies have mandated a hybrid workforce set-up. This is because of the vaccine roll-out that prioritized the working population. Some companies even renovated their offices to facilitate a hybrid workforce. They take volunteers who would work onsite and retain some of its employees at home because these workers feel safer. This is also called a distributed workplace.
In Philippine companies, they have established health safety equipment such as transparent but visible plastic barriers. This is to protect their workers from close contact. They also require office employees to practice social distancing while they are in their cubicles. Few trainings also take place onsite but for a short span of time allowed. It’s such a relief to know that majority of service businesses provide tools and equipment for their work from home employees.
What Now? Philippines Ready For New Kind of Work?
Like Japan, a hybrid workspace is the preferred new norm. Statistics say that most employees now like to work on a hybrid set-up; alternate office to home or permanent work from home while keeping up with the daily tasks. Employers have taken note of this and they’re giving their employees a work-and-life balance. It is now known as a flexible way of working without disrupting results.
Is it here to stay? With the rising cases in the Philippines, it’s safe to assume that employers want their employees protected. The majority of them would be working from home while a few can work in their offices. They can practice a blended working system that works best for them like weekly meetings, regular productivity updates, team collaboration, and strict deadlines.
Most BPO companies do this, as they are a huge working population fueling the country’s economy amidst the pandemic. Their foreign bosses were kind enough to pay for their internet subscription fees, working equipment, and other needed materials. Reimbursements were also given to those workers who bought their equipment in third-party stores.
For government workers, they were also given the skeletal work set-up. Accessories like transparent panels, ethyl alcohol on every desk, foot-operated alcohol dispenser, thermal thermometer, and more were mandated to be utilized in every government establishment. Most of their workforce remain at home.
How To Make Hybrid Workforce Work in The Philippines
Employers have been studying for a strategic plan to please the employees in what they want individually. Most of them want to stay at home while others want to return to the office. To remedy this, many employers have agreed to implementing a hybrid workforce in the Philippines.
How do you maintain order and increase productivity when it comes to hybrid workforce in the Philippines? Follow the tips below:
- Set boundaries – tell your employees working from home that they should have a small working station so that they could focus at work. For your employees working onsite, adhering to the safety protocols is a must so they should not wander from cubicle to cubicle and focus on their work station.
- Create weekly meetings – just a quick, virtual meet-up would benefit those who are working at home and office. You can talk about strategies, updates, bright ideas, or even check on how each other is doing. Pick a schedule where your onsite and WFH employees can meet without overlapping their duty hours.
- Be transparent on your group chat – make sure everyone is in and active on your group chat. At work, it’s important to keep tabs on each other to make sure you’re on the right page and no one is lagging behind. Your group chats don’t always have to contain work-related stuff, employees can also celebrate their wins or send pictures of their pets.
- Be considerate – times are hard, and working is even harder when employees don’t have a considerate employer (as long as it’s a valid reason). If your employee has slow internet, understand that employee and offer solutions if possible.
Workplace Mental Health: Working Remotely
We care about your employees as much as you do. For employee mental health training online, you can access our services.