Last updated on August 26, 2023 at 09:55 pm

Hybrid work allows us to tap into the benefits of both remote and in-person work. Despite the many benefits, managing a hybrid workforce is not without its challenges. As companies adapt to this dynamic workplace model, effective internal communication will be critical. 

In this blog, we’ll share strategies and best practices that HR professionals and internal communication teams can employ to connect, engage, and support employees across diverse locations.

Challenges of Managing a Hybrid Workforce

As more companies embrace hybrid work models, new challenges will arise for managers and internal communication teams. Managing a hybrid workforce requires careful consideration of the unique dynamics and needs that come with a blended work environment. Let’s explore some of the key challenges that organizations may face:

• Employee communication. One of the main challenges in managing a hybrid workforce is maintaining effective communication among team members. Differences in time zones, communication preferences, and technological barriers can all contribute to communication gaps and hinder teamwork.
• Company culture. A strong company culture is vital for employee engagement, productivity, and overall success. But many companies struggle to shift their mindset about how to build culture. The truth is, it’s possible to build a great culture even in an entirely remote setting. It just requires deliberate efforts to foster a sense of belonging and connection among all employees, regardless of their work location.
• Managing performance. Balancing workloads and monitoring employee performance can be more challenging when employees are hybrid. It’s essential to ensure that employees have clear expectations and guidelines for their remote and in-office work. And managers need to adapt their leadership style and establish fair performance evaluation metrics.
• Technology. With a hybrid workforce, having a robust and reliable technology infrastructure is crucial. Remote employees rely heavily on digital tools and communication platforms to connect with their colleagues and access necessary resources. And hybrid teams need to be equipped with the right tools to collaborate equally with in-person and remote colleagues simultaneously.

If your distributed workforce extends beyond hybrid office staff, then you also have to consider potential inequities in worker benefits and work arrangements. It’s important to target communications appropriately to your frontline employees, office staff, and hybrid workforce to manage this.

How to Manage a Hybrid Workforce With Internal Communication

So, what can you do about these hybrid work challenges? There are numerous strategies and approaches that can help mitigate these issues, but one of the most important is with a thoughtful internal communication strategy.

Let’s explore the five essential steps to effectively managing a hybrid workforce with strategic communication.

Step 1: Audit Your Channels and Conduct a Digital Channel Assessment

Start by auditing your existing communication channels. This will help you learn if you have the right communication channels and content for a hybrid workforce. You might be surprised where you find gaps!

Next, look at your messaging. Do you have the ability to target content? Is your content relevant to a newly hybrid workforce? Make sure you are sending the right types of messages to each segment of your workforce and adapt as needed.

Step 2: Conduct a Communication Preferences Survey

To tailor your internal communication approach, it’s crucial to understand the communication preferences of your hybrid workforce. 

Create a survey to gather insights on: 

• How employees prefer to receive information (e.g. mediums, who the message comes from, etc.)
• Preferred communication channels
• Comfort levels with different modes of communication 

This survey will help you adapt your communication strategies to align with hybrid employee preferences, promoting better engagement.

Step 3: Create a Content Strategy for Your Hybrid Workforce

Developing a content strategy specifically designed for a hybrid workforce is essential for keeping employees informed, engaged, and connected. 

Consider the diverse needs of remote and in-office employees and craft content that accommodates both groups. That might require you to embrace new formats like video messages, podcasts, and virtual town halls to cater to different communication preferences. 

And don’t forget to ensure the content is easily accessible, mobile-friendly, and well-organized, so employees can easily find and consume the information they need.

Step 4: Analyze and Adjust

Continuous evaluation is key to managing a hybrid workforce effectively. Take the following steps to assess your comms strategy and its impact.

• Regularly analyze the impact of your communication efforts and gather feedback from employees. 
• Assess the engagement levels, open rates, and click-through rates of your communications. 
• Use this data to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to your content, channels, and strategies. 
• Actively seek employee input and involve them in shaping the internal communication initiatives to foster a sense of ownership and inclusiveness.

Step 5: Repeat

Communication and hybrid workforce management is a cyclical process. And your communication approach should evolve as your company’s goals will shift over time.

So, not only should you conduct an audit and comms preferences surveys annually, you should also adjust your goals and approach to managing your hybrid workforce over time.

Managing a Hybrid Workforce With theEMPLOYEEapp

Effectively managing a hybrid workforce is much easier with the right tools and strategies. At theEMPLOYEEapp, we consider the needs of the communications team as well as your distributed and hybrid workforce. That’s why we have built a multi-channel platform that can be managed by a single content management system (CMS). 

That means you can streamline your workflow while your employees can engage on their preferred channels.

This ensures that important updates, announcements, and resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of their work location or communication preferences. Whether it’s sending push notifications for time-sensitive information, sharing engaging content, or organizing virtual events, theEMPLOYEEapp offers a range of options to connect with hybrid employees in meaningful ways.

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