Over the last few years, hybrid work has been a hot topic, especially in the tech industry.

At SAS, we’ve always been guided by our culture of trust and flexibility, and our strategy for flexible work is no exception. We trust our people to do the jobs they were hired to do, so our flexible work environment offers personal choice in how and where employees work, whether it’s choosing to come on-site for collaboration and connection, work remotely, or a hybrid mix.

For most folks at SAS Headquarters, hybrid work looks like spending 2-3 days a week at a SAS office with Wednesday as a common day to make the most of in-person collaboration. Over the past few years, we’ve learned together how to make the most of our shared time at the office. Check out these tips for making the most of your collaboration days:

Plan ahead to make the most of it

When planning your days onsite, look ahead at what’s on your calendar. Could a conference room location be added to some of your existing virtual meetings so folks onsite can gather? Schedule meetings and brainstorming sessions for common days to reap the benefits of real-time collaboration, and make use of the tools available like whiteboards, larger screens and more. Just remember to always provide a call-in option for remote colleagues (check out our blog on 5 tips for successful hybrid meetings for more).

Leave room for informal interactions

Formal collaboration times like planned meetings and brainstorming sessions are great, but don’t discount the value of informal or unplanned interactions – oftentimes a quick chat turns into a longer conversation that adds value or spurs a check-in with a colleague you don’t often have meetings with.

At SAS, we have monthly “Together Tuesday” gatherings to catch up with colleagues old and new over coffee and a breakfast goodie. These serve as a great way to connect with colleagues you might not normally see, but hallway conversations, office drop-ins, and spontaneous lunches or coffee are all great ways to create these connections.

Make time for social gatherings

Last year, we asked employees how SAS could improve their hybrid work experience and they shared that they’d like more opportunities to connect at larger company gatherings – and we heard them! Since then, we’ve had quarterly company parties to celebrate wins and bring folks together in-person, complete with food, drinks, music and more. The parties have been a hit – but you don’t need to pull out all the stops for team gatherings that bring people together. A team building activity, a pizza party or even just a walk together outside can go a long way to helping your team connect and share ideas in-person.

What are your best tips for making the most of onsite collaboration days? Let us know in the comments!

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