Finding the Right Staffing Agency to Navigate your Company Through the Nation-Wide Staffing Crisis

 The COVID-19 pandemic saw many people’s work commutes getting a lot shorter, going from their workplace to their new home offices. Even with things returning to normal, the shift in the common workday is still very much happening with many people taking on a hybrid schedule. Statistics show that as of November 2023, 54% of people with remote working capabilities had a hybrid schedule. Hybrid work involves a combination of going into the office and working from home. This type of schedule has benefits for both employees and employers. We’re going to take a closer look at these benefits as well as the challenges of making the hybrid leap. Why Employees Want a Hybrid Work Schedule A Gallup poll found that more than half of employees with the capability of remote work want a hybrid work arrangement. Why? Here are some of the top reasons: Flexibility Many people are craving a better work-life balance and hybrid work allows people to achieve that. Having a flexible work schedule rather than being confined to a traditional 9-5, allows people to still get their work done, but also carve out time for the things that are important to them. They can run out and do an errand, or catch their child’s baseball game, but still complete their assignments on their time. This results in happier workers who are more focused when they are on the job. Work When They’re Most Productive Not everyone does their best work at 9 am. Some people are more productive in the evenings. A hybrid schedule allows people to get their work done when their productivity peaks. While this can’t be done for all assignments that may be time-sensitive, it can benefit people at certain times and make their lives easier. Less Worker Burnout Maintaining a 9-5 schedule while trying to have a reasonable work-life balance can cause people to burnout. When people can have more control over their schedules, they are less stressed and more focused on what they’re doing. This leads to increased productivity and happy employees. Benefits of Hybrid Work for Employers Employees are not the only ones reaping the benefits of a hybrid schedule. There are also plenty of perks for employers. Hire Talent From Across the Globe When employees don’t have to physically be in the workplace all the time, it allows employers to diversify their workforce by hiring talent from around the globe. Having access to a wider talent pool means you can hire people with specialized skills. This allows employers to have a more competitive edge and even leads to around-the-clock productivity due to people working in different time zones. Save on Workspace If employers don’t have to make room for every employee at the same time, they can save on workspace. This could result in companies downsizing their real estate to save money. This can also save on energy costs, supplies, and much more, resulting in a heftier bottom line. Healthier Workforce Some employers find that they have a healthier workforce with employees on a hybrid schedule. Since there is less physical interaction, the opportunities to spread germs in a workplace environment diminish. Healthier workers equal increased productivity for employers. Challenges of a Hybrid Schedule While there are many benefits of a hybrid work schedule for both employers and employees, there are also challenges that need to be recognized. Difficulty Collaborating with Employees If people are working on-site on different days of the week, it can be difficult to schedule an in-person meeting when needed. The same is true for virtual meetings. Finding a time that everyone can be online to meet can sometimes be challenging. Trouble Accessing Materials While many materials can be accessed online, it can be hard to get tangible materials in hand on a hybrid schedule. If a worker needs a document right away, they will either have to wait until they go into the office or make a special trip to get what they need. Limited Interpersonal Relationships Hybrid work schedules can make it difficult to build relationships at work and enhance team-building events. Employers need to make an extra effort to have workers collaborate and get to know one another so that they can be more productive as a team. Hybrid Model Not Made for Every Industry The hybrid work model is not ideal for every industry. Those that are more action-based rather than project-based may not see the benefits a hybrid schedule can offer. They may actually see lost productivity due to the fact that the work needs to be done on site and will suffer if done at home.Other industries simply can’t be done remotely such as many manufacturing and medical jobs. Types of Hybrid Work Schedules Since hybrid work schedules are all about flexibility, there are different types of arrangements to explore: Hybrid at-will Employees choose when they are coming into the office. Structured Hybrid The company assigns specific days for onsite and remote work. Hybrid Manager-Scheduling Managers choose when their team comes into the office. Hybrid Mix This combines all three of the above options. While hybrid work schedules are increasing in popularity, they’re not made for everyone and every industry. If a hybrid work schedule is possible, it’s best to discuss an arrangement that benefits everyone involved.

If you’re searching for a job, you want to have the skills that employers are looking for. This will mean the difference between being at the top of the resume pile and not even being considered. As you continue your job search, here’s a look at the ten of the top in-demand job skills of 2024. In-Demand Job Skills in 2024 1. Communication Being able to communicate with co-workers and supervisors is key in any type of job. This is especially true in the ever-growing hybrid workplace where people are not always sharing a workspace. Written and verbal communication skills are extremely important to get the job done correctly and efficiently. 2. Leadership & Management Leadership skills are critical to many different types of jobs. Leadership shows initiative, motivation, and trustworthiness…all skills that employers find valuable. It also demonstrates the ability to manage conflict and mentor others. It also inspires and helps to create connections between personal motivations and professional results. Management skills are very important because they help you get more work done, balance priorities and deadlines, and work with others. Employers want to find workers they can trust with tasks and don’t have to constantly watch over them. Those who embody management skills fill this requirement. 3. Emotional Intelligence More employers are looking for emotional intelligence in the people they hire because it results in higher job performance. Employees with high levels of emotional intelligence can handle stress better and implement coping mechanisms before chaos ensues. They are also better active listeners and can read the room and adjust their behavior or work as needed without being obvious. 4. Teamwork Collaborating with others, respecting others’ opinions, and being able to share ideas are important to any workplace setting. People who can work together and adapt to situations help to drive results. This is what employers want to see. 5. Problem-Solving Can you think on your feet and solve problems quickly? Employers look for people who can meet challenges and solve problems. Using critical thinking skills is important to getting around problems and seeing the big picture. 6. Creative-Thinking Equally as important, if not more important, than problem-solving skills, are creative-thinking skills. According to the World Economic Forum , the demand for creative thinking is expected to grow faster than the demand for analytic thinking in the next five years. Employers like creative thinking because it leads to solutions that others may have not considered. It also allows people to be open-minded about others’ ideas which can spur innovation. 7. Relationship Building Building relationships and bringing in customers is extremely important in many different sectors. Businesses need sales-minded employers in this challenging economy. Those who have sales skills and can use AI tools to help in the sales cycle prove to stand out even more. 8. Customer Service People enjoy doing business with companies that make customer service a priority. Candidates who have people skills and know how to handle those from all types of backgrounds and with different viewpoints are priceless. Excellent customer service leads to trust building which helps any company’s bottom line. 9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skills Many different sectors are relying on AI skills which is why it has become an in-demand skill for job seekers. Healthcare, education, data security, and finance are just some of the areas that use AI to be more productive. 10. Marketing Marketing skills are versatile. They can include research, strategic thinking, creativity, customer relationship management, and much more. Whether you’re marketing yourself or a product, you want to have the skills that make you stand out. Marketing skills are especially helpful in sales, project management, and operations jobs. As you consider these in-demand skills, Summit Careers is here to help match you with the right employer. Contact us today to learn more about how we connect job seekers with employers in many different sectors.