Hybrid work refers to the combination of multiple workspaces, including home, to perform work-related tasks (Halford, 2005). Hybrid work thus encourages flexible (spatial and temporal) working practices, among which working from home (WFH) is the most popular. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restriction measures suddenly boosted hybrid work: telework jumped from 17.6% to 42% of the Belgian labour force in March 2020 (SPF Mobilité, 2018; SD Worx, 2020). Due to the COVID-19 experience, but also after confinement and social distancing measures have been lifted out, hybrid work is very likely to remain commonplace among work practices (Leesman Index, 2022), achieving a different reality that will render existing studies obsolete (Cappelli, 2021; Aroles et al., 2021). Supporting its development calls for new policies and regulations at different levels that are still largely missing since the mid- and long-term effects of structural hybrid work have not yet been comprehensively analysed.
The aim of this research project is to identify the conditions under which hybrid work may be sustainable for the many. SUSHY’s general research question comes through three units of analysis, in a long-term perspective (allowing to adapt to institutional, organizational and individual changes in hybrid work practice) and draws on a precise and adaptive characterization of hybrid work (where intensity is key). Three main sub-questions derive therefrom: (a) What are the conditions under which hybrid work can have a positive impact on physical, physiological and mental well-being?, (b) What are the conditions under which hybrid work can have a positive impact on productivity?; (c) What are the conditions under which hybrid work can have a consistently positive effect on households and firms’ energy demands in order to reduce carbon footprints?.
By studying the effects of hybrid work on well-being, productivity and energy demand in an interdisciplinary approach, SUSHY addresses the multi-factorial nature of hybrid work. It allows identifying the conditions under which a balance between these different factors and the variables behind can be reached—and make hybrid work productive in a manner that is sustainable for the people and the planet.
The perspective envisaged in this project not only covers economic but also social and environmental aspects. SUSHY adopts an interdisciplinary and integrated longitudinal mixed-method approach. The method is structured in three phases that complement and feed each other to deepen the understanding of hybrid work: (a) a large-scale employee survey, (b) case studies and (c) a panel followed-up by digital diaries.
The project is structured on three scientific Work Packages: (1) hybrid work and well-being, (2) hybrid work and productivity, and (3) hybrid work and environment. These three WPs are supported by four further transversal work packages focusing respectively on (1) an integrated research methodology (WP4), (2) the overall coordination of the project (WP5); (3) Data management (WP6) and (4) the valorisation, dissemination and exploitation of results (WP7).