Hybrid working: How do you work efficiently at home and in the office or flex space?

People are returning from holidays and corona is slowly dying down now that most of the adult Dutch population is fully vaccinated. 

Hospitality businesses are opening their doors further and further relaxations are already around the corner. In the process, 'the new way of working' is also becoming increasingly important.

Whereas previously everyone could be found in the office for 5 days or 40 hours a week, that is now virtually a thing of the past. In many sectors in the Netherlands, working from home has also proven to work surprisingly well.

This is how 'the new way of working' came about: we all found out that working from home is nice, but that being in the office sometimes still has its advantages. 

Research by the AWVN shows that 9 in 10 employees want to work from home regularly and 60% of employers are going to make hybrid working the norm.

This new way of working is called: hybrid working. But how do you work efficiently at home and at the office or at your flexi place? Both locations have advantages and disadvantages, so it pays to divide your week in such a way that you take advantage of the benefits of both.

We dive in with you! ↓

The benefits of working in an office

Working in the office has been the norm for many years. Working from home was basically out of the question unless you had a valid reason, or had, for example, a home working day included in your contract. 

Although that hardly occurred at many companies, if at all. Perhaps because the employer was also always in the office.

But why was that anyway?

Working at the office has many advantages, we'll go through them with you!

• The sociability of your colleagues during lunch or when you get a new cup of coffee.
• Meetings are just so much easier: No one drops out because of a bad connection or falls out because two people are talking at the same time
• Need someone in a hurry? You step right up to them and consult directly. Collaboration is much easier.
• A Friday afternoon drink by yourself is less fun than when your colleagues are there!
• It is easier to keep business and private life separate: the office is work and home is rest. 
• Productivity is more often higher: no washing machine asking for you or that pile of dust that would like to be tidied up anyway.

But it also has advantages as an employer: you hear faster what your colleagues are doing, what is on their minds and what is going on in the workplace. Plus, you are easy to approach: your employees can see if you are busy and so easily step into your office.

Plus, the aforementioned point about "keeping business and home separate: office is work and home is rest" is also very important for the average entrepreneur.
 

The benefits of working from home (home office)

For a year and a half, a large part of the Netherlands has been working entirely from home. Whereas in the beginning it was mostly stressful because you were not sure whether you had enough pasta, rice and toilet paper at home, in the end it was mostly lonely for many. 

Working from home is simply more lonely: your colleagues are not around you and there is no one with whom you can (sometimes) vent your work frustrations. 

But, working from home also brings many advantages. After all, why else would much of the Netherlands want to work hybrid? 

• You can fully throw yourself into your work for eight hours, without being disturbed by colleagues who have a short or (un)important question.
• All travel time is eliminated: no more traffic jams or missing your transfer. 
• Something comes up? Then you can easily resume your work at a later time, e.g. in the evening.
• And do you have small children (or pets)? Then you will have more time to spend with them.

Of course, also a very big advantage for the employers among us: you need fewer large offices. That means lower costs for electricity, rent and furniture! In other words: more profit.

How do you make the most of the benefits of working in the office and working from home?

As an entrepreneur (or an employee), do you want to strategically use your time in the office and at home to make the most of it? Then be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both. 

When do you go to the office?

• When you have an (important) meeting;
• When you know you need your colleague's help for something;
• At the start of a new project or assignment;
• When you need to collaborate with a colleague;
• Whenever you want to! For example, because you miss the sociability of your colleagues or you are ready for another drink.

When do you work at home?

• When you really want to focus and not be disturbed;
• When you have an appointment in between: for example, you have to be at the dentist at 9 o'clock;
• When you want to plan your day flexibly and not stick to the standard 9-17 hours;
• When the rest of your team can get on (most of the day) even without your help.

Hybrid working only works if you have clear agreements with your team and employer (or employees). 

• What is expected of you when you work from home? 
• When are you expected in the office?
• How often are you allowed to work from home?
• To what extent are you allowed to arrange your day or week flexibly?

But either way: hybrid working is the future. Even if you prefer to work at home all the time or at the office.

Do you want to work hybrid, but don't know how to do that with your business telephony? Then we have the solution for you.

Switch from a desk phone and transfer your fixed number to your mobile! Read more about fixed to mobile from Rinkel and transfer your 085 number, 010 number or other regional number.

Bonus: how do we work at Rinkel?

We noticed that preferences vary from colleague to colleague. Therefore, everyone was given the freedom to fill in two days themselves. So all Rinkelers (in collaboration with their team) can choose to work from home two days a week.

Although you see that several Rinkelaars still choose to be in the office for five days. Probably because it's great fun every day (or could it be because of that well-made lunch...).

But: the freedom is there! And that is the most important thing for many colleagues.