Work needs ‘intentional redesign’

FOR the past few years, the conversation around the future of work has been dominated by one word: hybrid.

- GARY BATEMAN

Hybrid work is a way of working that combines days in the office with days working remotely, often from home. In South Africa, many companies now use this style because it helps workers achieve a better work-life balance. It has been hailed as the great compromise a post-pandemic solution that balances business needs with employee preferences. However, hybrid isn’t the answer at all.

Real differentiator

Hybrid is simply a structure. The real differentiator is intentionality. The question we should be asking is not where people work but why, when and how. The endless tug-of-war between remote and office work misses the real issue: many workplace systems were never purposefully designed in the first place.