Models of hybrid work: implementing remote work in post-pandemic times

In recent years, remote work has become increasingly widespread. Many companies have adopted hybrid work models, blending in-office and remote work. While much has been written about remote work adoption during and after the pandemic, there is still a limited understanding of how organisations are implementing this working modality. The article aims to fill this gap by identifying the hybrid work models that have emerged in the post-pandemic period. It proposes an analytical framework that highlights the key characteristics of these models. The research is based on a survey of 480 companies in Lombardy, along with case studies derived from qualitative interviews and focus groups involving Human Resource Managers from 19 large companies in Milan. The study identifies four hybrid work models based on two variables: the intensity and flexibility of remote work. The models are the following: Intense and Flexible, Intense and Bounded, Moderate and Bounded, and Moderate and Flexible. In addition to describing how the four models are structured, the article also explores the factors that influence a company's choice of one model over another, the uncertain nature of the constraints posed by the different level of teleworkability, and the implications in terms of recruitment and retention strategies.