Before the pandemic, “flexible working” was slowly (but steadily) gaining traction in the workplace to replace traditional work culture. And then, the pandemic happened. As a result, remote work has become the norm for many businesses across the world, including Bangkok. Once employees acquired the taste for the flexibility that the new norm offered, their expectations shifted as well, giving rise to hybrid work strategies that are shaping the world of work as we know it.

But, what is hybrid working and how do shared office spaces in Bangkok contribute to a business that practises hybrid working? Read on as we share more about working in the new normal.

What Does Hybrid Work Mean?

Before we dive deeper into the topic, let’s start with the basics – what does “hybrid work” mean? Even though there is no clear definition yet, the general consensus is that hybrid working is a blend of office and remote work, whereby the individual and the organisation are the ones who decide how the time should be split. 

Currently, there are a variety of hybrid strategies that businesses have adopted to reflect their best working practices whilst accommodating the sentiments of their employees. Some of the common ones include:

Office-First

When a hybrid company adopts an office-first approach, they are establishing that the office or headquarters (HQ) remains the dominant workplace. But this does not necessarily mean that there is zero flexibility around this. Instead, it indicates that the office is the primary place for employees to get most of their work done. 

Remote-First

As its name suggests, a remote-first strategy refers to remote work being the primary option for most, if not all employees. While there can be a few exceptions, especially if the employee’s role requires them to be in the office, for the most part physically, processes will usually be remote-first. For instance, dialling in for team meetings would be the default. 

3-2 Model

The 3-2 model refers to businesses that require their employees to spend three days working in the office and two at home, or vice versa. Businesses that adopt this approach usually regard team bonding and collaboration as essential parts of their company culture. 

Designated Work-From-Home Days

Companies adopting this hybrid approach usually allocate days where it is acceptable for their employees to work from home. This could be on a day without team meetings or collaborative sessions. 

Unlike fully-office-based businesses or fully-remote ones, companies that adopt this approach need to set guidelines to meet their employees’ expectations around how and where they should work. This, in turn, makes each hybrid working set-up unique to the company adopting it. 

Coupled with the ongoing pandemic, hybrid work approaches have greatly accelerated the demand for hybrid office spaces. 

Hybrid Offices

A hybrid office is one that accommodates both remote workers and office workers. As such, hybrid offices tend to be ideal for startups with room for flexibility. For instance, tech companies that predominantly work remotely or for growing businesses that offer various options for their employees. As such, many startups in Bangkok choose to rent shared office spaces for their employees to accommodate multiple work styles. 

Instead of solely relying on remote work or forcing employees to come into the office against their will, hybrid offices allow for more flexible work hours and cut down on commuting time. Since employees are given the option to work flexibly in shared office spaces, companies may also notice a decrease in employee attrition rate as engagement increases. With less time and money spent commuting, employees can invest their time doing the things they love, translating to a better work-life balance.

In addition to benefiting the employees, shared office spaces in Bangkok, like JustCo, help businesses reduce their overhead costs through flexible office rental packages and a wide array of amenities as well as facilities.

The Role That Shared Office Spaces Play

While large private office spaces and cubicles may have been the standard office layout for companies just two years ago, today, in a post-pandemic world, we see offices becoming more flexible and amenities becoming on-demand. 

For instance, conference rooms used to be a must-have for every business with an office. Today, companies in Bangkok are starting to realise that they need a meeting room on an as-needed basis. Hence, instead of paying for it every month, they are more comfortable paying for a meeting room by the hour. 

In addition to paying for on-demand amenities, shared office spaces in Bangkok, like JustCo, are also showcasing the future of furniture, meeting the need for customisable arrangements. This can be attributed to the fact that most startups only rent the shared office space for a short term and thus require only a certain amount of furniture such as desks, whiteboards, and chairs.

Other furniture can be added to meet the needs of the tenants. The main goal of shared office spaces is for companies to maximise their space whilst minimising distractions so that everyone can enjoy increased productivity. 

Supporting Companies’ Hybrid Work Approaches

At the end of the day, the best hybrid work approach depends on your business’ needs and wants. If your company, like many others at this time, is looking for a workspace that is flexible enough to cater to both remote and in-person office workers, then you cannot do much better than JustCo’s shared office spaces in Bangkok. Our shared office spaces are located in central business districts like Sathorn and Silom Edge, with five locations across the city. 

Let us help you ease into a hybrid work approach! Contact us today to find out more about shared office spaces in Bangkok.