“The only thing holding back flexible work arrangements was a failure of imagination.”
So said Joan Williams, director of the University of California Center for WorkLife Law, in The New York Times.
The pandemic has broken open the collective imagination of tech companies — ushering in a new age of work in which remote and hybrid models reign. The NYT reported that 700 respondents offered a sweeping palette of reasons to love hybrid work, among them “sunlight, sweatpants, quality time with kids, quality time with cats, more hours to read and run, space to hide the angst of a crummy day or year.”
For Rue Gilt Group Growth Marketing Manager Rebecca Lockard, that reason is her 10-month old daughter.
“I love spending time with her when I would otherwise be commuting — my colleagues also love getting to see her pop in on occasional Zoom meetings,” Lockard told Built In Boston. “On the flip side, there is real value in going into the office: The unplanned conversations that happen are irreplaceable.”
Liliana Piña, a Chirp marketer and merchandiser at Bookbub, adores the adventure her company’s hybrid policy affords her.
“I am a young professional living in an incredible city,” Piña said. “I can work from a café, in a different city, at home or in the office — the choice is mine to make.”
Fleeting moments with their little ones, working from the edges of the world, a stolen minute of quiet in the afternoon, an energizing chat in the office courtyard: The advantages of the hybrid workplace reach as far as each employee’s imagination. Built In Boston sat down with tech professionals Grubhub, Bookbub and Rue Gilt Group to learn more about the hybrid life they’ve been able to carve out with their companies — and where they find joy in the balance between office and remote work.
Grubhub is an online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace that works with an expansive network of restaurant partners to deliver food conveniently to its customers.
Briefly describe your company’s hybrid model.
Employees come in two to three days a week. With their leader, employees are encouraged to create a schedule that balances personal needs with the needs of the business.
Managers may also periodically set up required team collaboration days — where all team members working near an office come into the office for in-person events and live team collaboration.
What impact has the shift to hybrid had on the way you and your teammates work?
This policy started in March of this year. Since we started to go back to the office, I haven’t noticed a big impact in our work at all.
Some people just prefer working from home and others enjoy going into the office. Knowing that you can do both is the best of both worlds and offers a solution for everyone’s unique needs and preferences.
I can stay at home when I need to be focused, but for the days in which I have more meetings, I enjoy going in for that face-to-face interaction and collaboration.”
What are the main advantages you’ve experienced under a hybrid work model?
I am a person who enjoys working from home, where I can be more focused and use my time more efficiently. On the other hand, I am a social person too, so a hybrid model is the perfect solution for me. I can stay at home when I need to be focused, but for the days in which I have more meetings, I enjoy going in for that face-to-face interaction and collaboration.
Rue Gilt Group is an e-commerce portfolio company that strives to connect its shoppers with in-demand designers and labels at an appealing value.
Briefly describe your company’s hybrid model.
Rue Gilt Groupe is very open-minded about our hybrid model — allowing flexibility for the diverse needs of our associates. The company has done a fantastic job at setting our teams up for success, regardless of whether we are working remotely, full-time, or coming into the office a few days each week.
Our conference rooms are all outfitted with Zoom cameras, and every employee is provided with the tech equipment required to perform their jobs from home along with their own Zoom credentials.
In marketing, our teams have continued to follow the meeting and communications best practices that were put in place while we all worked remotely. We avoid scheduling meetings during lunch and after 3 p.m. on Fridays — though we additionally currently have the perk of logging-off at 1 p.m. each Friday for “Summer Fridays.” We also don’t expect emails or Slack messages after 5 p.m. or before 9 a.m.
What impact has the shift to hybrid work had on the way you and your teammates work?
Rue Gilt Groupe implemented its hybrid work policy at the beginning of this year. Personally, the hybrid policy has made me more intentional with my time and empowered me to be more present while I’m in the office with my teammates.
Our team frequently shifts meeting times to have as many of our meetings in-person together as possible — this helps avoid Zoom fatigue and we use lunch to get to know one another. Our team grew so much over the past couple of years, so I’m excited that I get to meet more of my new co-workers for the first time whenever I’m in the office.
The hybrid policy has made me more intentional with my time and empowered me to be more present while I’m in the office with my teammates.”
What are the main advantages you’ve experienced under a hybrid work model?
I have a 10-month-old daughter and am so grateful for the additional time I have with her on my work-from-home days.
On the other hand, there is real value in connecting with my team in-person. The unplanned conversations that happen outside of scheduled meetings are when we get to know one another better, brainstorm, and collaborate so we can continue sparking delight for our members.
BookBub is a consumer web service that provides a free service that helps millions of readers discover new books.
Briefly describe your company’s hybrid model.
At our company, employees are able to decide the type of work model that makes them feel the safest and most comfortable — whether it be hybrid or fully remote. No one is expected or forced to come into the office, but those who prefer to use the communal workspace have the opportunity to come in and utilize it.
This flexibility allows employees like myself to select whichever schedule works best for us, empowering us to choose the work experience that will encourage us to be the happiest and most productive.
What impact has the shift to hybrid had on the way you and your teammates work?
Because our company has a longstanding tradition of trust in its employees — while always valuing our safety and security — we were early adopters of a hybrid work policy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was hired after this switch and my entire onboarding process was virtual, though my team worked very hard to make me feel as welcome as I would have in person.
Everyone on my immediate team utilizes our hybrid work policy and tries to come into the office at least once each week. We often try to come in on the same days or attend certain meetings or events in person — and I have found that I prefer the hybrid approach to work. I am very happy to have a flexible schedule as it allows me to maintain strong relationships with my colleagues while being able to decide where to work from depending on my needs.
This flexibility allows employees like myself to select whichever schedule works best for us, empowering us to choose the work experience that will encourage us to be the happiest and most productive.”
What are the main advantages you’ve experienced under a hybrid work model?
At this stage in my career, I thrive under this new hybrid work model because it allows me to travel, explore and make connections with my colleagues at the same time.
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