Remote work was the favored work setup at the height of the pandemic. Majority of the companies in the Philippines immediately shifted to a remote work setup to ensure that they continue to operate amid the community quarantine and lockdowns. However, remote work is not conducive to particular tasks in the company. Handling fixed equipment, manufacturing, providing care, and using lab equipment, among others, are some of the functions that cannot be done remotely. That is why the majority of the corporations here in the Philippines shifted to a hybrid work setup. 

The implementation of a hybrid work setup varies per company. A company can either allow certain departments to work remotely and other departments to report on-site. On the other hand, the corporation can also allot specific days within the work week for the workforce to work on-site. 

There are various advantages to a hybrid work setup.

• An improved work-life balance
• Flexibility in where to work
• Better access to work resources and equipment

These and more helped more companies to consider shifting to a hybrid work setup. 

However, challenges are part of this transition. 

Since the hybrid work setup is a relatively new concept in the Philippines, companies, including micro and medium enterprises, have been wary of immediately implementing this setup. This article will list the potential challenges that a company might face when transitioning to a hybrid work setup and how a full-suite HRIS and payroll software can help them in the transition. This way, they are prepared for the transition to a new work setup. 

Challenges of a hybrid work setup

Adapting to a hybrid work setup takes time, particularly for those who are used to the traditional on-site attendance or remote work setup that was prevalent at the height of the pandemic. Some of the challenges faced during the transition include the following:

Difficulty with employee attendance

In a hybrid work setup, it is difficult to keep track of employee attendance. Because there are on-site and online employees, it can be a struggle to manage the whole workforce’s attendance particularly if the company is using manual means to track and record employee attendance. Not to mention, going digital means tracking remote employees’ attendance is also a must. And collating everyone’s attendance for payroll is another matter that needs the HR department’s manpower and resources.   

Faster employee burnout

Transitioning to a hybrid work setup is a learning curve for everyone in the company, not just the HR department. The whole workforce will be exposed to and have to learn new tools, processes, and new environments. If employees are not used to change, this can lead to faster employee burnout. 

The feeling of disconnection felt by employees

A feeling of disconnection with their colleagues may begin in the hybrid work setup. Because not all employees are in the office, there may be times that employees may not feel the presence of their colleagues. This, in turn, can affect teamwork and collaboration.

Choosing and using the right tools to implement a hybrid work setup

The HR team needs to have the right tools that can accommodate both on-site and online employees. Apart from the price, the team also needs to consider if they need multiple tools to handle collaboration, employee management, and other functions within the company. 

Luckily, there is a full-suite HRIS and payroll software that offers all these features and caters to Philippine companies: GreatDay HR. 

HRIS software addresses hybrid work setup challenges

Transitioning to a hybrid work setup does not have to be complicated nor does it require multiple tools. HRIS software can handle manual tasks well, particularly the HR department’s tasks such as payroll, attendance, recruitment, and employee management and engagement. The HR department should be the first to adopt a hybrid work setup as the team handles sourcing, hiring, and workforce management.

Here are ways HRIS software can address the challenges listed above:

Employee-initiated attendance

Employee attendance and filing of leaves and claims are no longer just the HR department’s work. With HRIS software, employees can have a more active role in these activities. In addition, enabling the workforce to log their attendance and do their filings enables them to be accountable for their attendance and claims. 

With HRIS and payroll software, it is also easier to keep track of and monitor every employee’s attendance for the payroll. The HR department no longer has to do this manually, at the same time, computing the employee’s payroll should be easy too. HRIS and payroll software like GreatDay HR. Having these features under one platform is a definite plus since it is easier and cheaper than having to pay for different platforms per function.

 

Easier leave filing 

Leaves are provided by the company for a reason. Apart from cultivating relationships outside the office or taking a break from work, rest actually boosts productivity. Rest and relaxation reduce burnout, help employees re-evaluate their goals, enable them to be more collaborative, and more. To learn more, read about how rest boosts employee productivity here.

Back then, employees had to manually file their leaves on paper, submit it to the HR department, and then to the employee’s immediate supervisor for their review. With HRIS software, it is easier for employees to file their leaves. The leaves filing system is easily seen on the employee dashboard, and employees can file for their leaves. Since it is under one platform, the HR department and the supervisors can immediately access these requests and have their decision done under the same platform as well. 

And with a cloud-based platform, gone are the days that the HR department has to keep mountains of leave requests when calculating the employees’ monthly salaries and 13th month pays. The payroll software can automatically generate the employee’s payslip and monthly salary for the department’s review and disbursement. 

Collaborate and meet on one platform

Collaboration is one hurdle that prevails in a hybrid work setup. There are chances that the company can use multiple tools and software to foster a collaborative work environment for its on-site and online employees. Fortunately, HRIS software like GreatDay HR offers GreatDay Meet, Internal Social Feed, and an Inter-Company chat all under one platform. This way, the workforce does not have to use multiple tools to communicate, interact, and engage with their team and the other departments. 

This also enables the whole workforce to work together, regardless if they are on-site or working remotely. The Activity Recording and Geolocation and Geo Tracking also enable the whole team to be updated on everyone’s tasks regardless of where they’re working. 

The hybrid work setup is the future, and it is here to stay. Learning the advantages and disadvantages it provides is the first step to adopting this new work setup. And adopting this new work setup does not have to be complicated. To make everyone’s lives easier, there are all-in-one platforms that help the company to keep moving forward, like GreatDay HR. 

For tips on how to choose the best HRIS software for the company’s needs, click here.

GreatDay HR is one of the platforms offered by SunFish DataOn Philippines Inc. (SDP), the leading provider of cutting-edge Human Resources technology solutions used by thousands of companies in the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines. Together with its sister companies, Humanica Thailand and DataOn Indonesia, SDP creates HRIS and Payroll Solutions for employee empowerment across the board. With its 80+ staff and growing in the Philippines, SDP offers a comprehensive and smooth support service to all its valued clients.