Hybrid working is a flexible model of employment which contains a blend of remote working, in-office working, and on-to-go working. When a crisis hits, the world adapts. So when covid hit, to keep the economy moving, companies bent towards remote and hybrid working. The research done by Owl Lab showed that hybrid workers are 22 percent happier and stay at the job longer.
Hybrid Working in Pharmaceutical Industry
There is no doubt that most life science work needs to happen onsite in the laboratories to conduct experimentation and manufacture products. But pharmaceutical companies like TriRx expect their employees to know what is required of them. Some pharmaceutical companies have given their employees the flexibility to work in an office or remotely depending upon the project they are currently doing and its requirements. Hence, there is a space for hybrid working in the pharma industry depending upon the job.
Benefits of Hybrid Working in Pharma
While there is no doubt about some drawbacks of hybrid working, the benefits of the flexible work model are overwhelming.
1. Increased Efficiency
The CEO of GSK consumer healthcare, in an interview with Mckinsey, said that the efficiency of the workplace was significantly increased by remote working. It made meetings more focused and productive, and improved decision making and speed of work completion. Another surprising result was that even though the leadership wasn’t present, their communication and collaboration were enhanced due to hybrid work.
2. Remote Clinical Trials
The demand for remote clinical trials is increasing because decreases the cost and increases the efficiency and productivity of clinical trials. It is achieved by saving the time spent commuting to different sites by patients, healthcare workers, and research organization employees. Remote trials make it easy to reach relevant patients in remote areas and increase the correctness of data and analysis. The work-life balance of workers is also improved.
3. Workplace Diversity
Remote working means hiring managers can dive into a more diverse talent pool. The companies are not bound to choose from a small population of people who come for in-office interviews or a population that can work nine to five. Remote working provides flexibility in hiring where you can hire talent from all over the world and they can choose their own hours as long as the deadline is met. Women leave careers in pharma more than men due to various maternal responsibilities and work-childcare balance. Remote work allows the retention of more women in pharma.
4. Learning Opportunities
Pharma companies are able to retain the existing talent in their company by allowing remote work. Remote work increases developmental and learning opportunities for employees. Many pharma companies have increased demand from employees to gain online learning. Remote work has made pharma companies more accessible for talented people with sustainable jobs.
Final Takeaway
There are drawbacks of remote work but pharma companies have space to make that work. Employers should definitely take this opportunity to increase efficiency, productivity, and diversity. For hybrid working to become an indispensable part of the pharma industry, certain policy changes are in order.
