Your avatar will attend your meetings in the future

Hybrid work is tricky to implement. With half the team in the office and the other working remotely, new challenges like inclusivity and equity come to the surface. Technology can bridge these gaps.

56 percent of jobs in the United States can be done partially remote if not completely, according to a research by Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics. This said, she predicts that most companies will fully shift to hybrid work in the next few years. 

But to ensure that equity and diversity are addressed, a deeper understanding and commitment to intentionality need to be applied in the management strategy. 

Equity and Inclusion

Going into detail, Lister said that people who are reporting in the office might be favored for job promotions or increased compensation. She also said that even in hybrid meetings, much attention has to be given to people who are joining virtually because they are likely to feel like outcasts. 

Lister said to level the playing field steps like making someone who is attending virtually the meeting moderator or implementing a buddy system can make hybrid work successful. 

If there is a positive take away from hybrid work, it would have to be the opportunity for diversity. Lister said that since any company can hire talents from all over the world, diversity is cultivated. 

And to bind all these ideas together, technology plays an important role. Holograms, automation and artificial intelligence can offer those who are attending meetings feel included. It closes the physical gap between those who are in the office and those working virtually.

Finally, Lister says that with the new work setup allows for redefinition of job roles. She said tasks that are not related to job roles may be outsourced therefore giving employees more time to focus on their real work. 

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