Microsoft’s Hybrid Work Model In Force: Permanent Work From Home For All, Zero Office Space

To cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft is planning on making its workers work from home permanently and offer flexible working hours under its ‘hybrid workplace’ initiative.

Read on to know more about the ‘hybrid workplace’…

Microsoft’s ‘Hybrid Workplace’!

The Seattle-based company has disclosed its new “hybrid workplace” guidance that offers employees a more flexible remote work schedule and even relocate elsewhere in the USA.

“Flexibility can mean different things to each of us, and we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all solution given the variety of roles, work requirements and business needs we have at Microsoft. To address this, we have provided guidance to employees to make informed decisions around scenarios that could include changes to their work site, work location, and/or work hours once offices are open without any COVID-19 restrictions,” Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s chief people officer, said in a post on the official Microsoft Blog. 

Once the crisis subsides, the company plans on permanently offering its employees greater flexibility. Most roles will remain remote less than 50% of the time with manager approval, the company said.

Main Features of ‘Hybrid Workplace’

“Our step-by-step guidance includes considerations like office space, salary and benefits, local law, personal taxes, expenses and more,” the blog post read.

1. Work Site- The employees can work from home freely for less than 50% of their working week. 
2. Work Hours- The company also said that a majority of the employees’ work schedules were also flexible without manager approval. In other words, no standardized start and end times for workdays. 
3. Work Location- The managers will be given the authority to approve permanent remote work. The employees can move across the country for remote work. However, the compensation and benefits will vary depending on the company’s own pay scale. According to Verge, remote working employees won’t have assigned workspaces but will have access to flexible “touchdown space” at Microsoft’s offices.