The research project “Hybrid work of experts (HYBRIDI)” explored interaction situations of expert work conducted in face-to-face, hybrid (part face-to-face, part online), and online. The project was funded by The Finnish Work Environment Fund. The participants were experts working in three companies in Finland. The data consisted of a online survey (N = 295), a two-week smart ring period (physiological arousal, N = 81), questionnaires related to interaction situations, and interviews (N = 35).
Multilocational working is common
Large-scale multilocational expert work is here to stay, with Finland being among the top European countries in multilocational work frequency. When working multilocationally, interaction situations in particular change as there are fewer face-to-face encounters than before. In this study, interaction situations are broadly understood as work situations involving more than one person, such as collaborative working, team and client meetings, conversations between supervisor and employee, briefings, and training.
Remote work hinders relatedness satisfaction
The results of the study showed that the more remote workdays a person did, the less they felt relatedness satisfaction. Fewer informal encounters that take place during remote work, were considered important negative factor for learning and development. Remote interaction was also perceived as hampering learning, for example by narrowing networks and awareness of colleagues’ work and tasks. Model learning and asking colleagues for advice was perceived also more challenging in remote settings.
Hybrid encounters are challenging
Hybrid interaction situations were perceived as the most challenging of the encounter modes and in them, the participants reported the lowest levels of relatedness and autonomy satisfaction, fulfilment of situational goals, and competence development. Higher scores of physiological arousal were also measured in hybrid situations compared to face-to-face and remote encounters, which indicates increased psychological strain in hybrid situations.
The results shed light on the differences between situation modes
The results of the survey shed light on differences in the way work interactions are conducted: 1) Hybrid situations are perceived as particularly challenging; 2) Face-to-face, informal encounters are important for everyone, but especially for new employees; 3) Some types of situations work well remotely, others benefit particularly from face-to-face encounters; 4) Remote and hybrid encounters are particularly challenging for relatedness and competence development.
The more summarized and concise information about the results and conclusion of the project can be read from the guide: Guide for interaction situations in multilocational work [In Finnish].
More in depth description of the results, background, and methods of the project can be found in the final report: HYBRIDI final report [In Finnish].