Hur påverkar hybridarbete sociala relationer och samarbete mellan kollegor?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore how working professionals experience their social relationships and collaboration with colleagues when working in a hybrid work environment. Hybrid work defines working both from home and at the office. This way of working became more common during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to be a part of many people’s everyday work life. The study is based on eight interviews with nine people from different jobs and parts of Sweden. A qualitative method was used, with semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Two key theories were used to understand the results: the Demand-Control-Support model by Karasek and Theorell (1990), and Sense of Coherence (SOC) by Antonovsky (1993). Results indicate both positive and negative sides of hybrid work. Flexibility is seen as a major benefit, as it helps to balance work and private life. At the same time, it becomes harder to maintain or build social relationships. Informal and spontaneous conversations, such as chatting in the hallway or having lunch together are less frequent. Some participants felt that relationships became more selective, and that new colleagues had a harder time becoming part of the group. Digital tools are widely used and support task-related communication, but they do not fully replace face-to-face interaction. Several participants said that conversations became more formal and focused on work tasks, which made social bands weaker over time. Some also felt unsure about contacting colleagues, especially for smaller questions or informal chats. Collaboration in hybrid settings was described as possible but more complicated. Being in different locations can lead to misunderstandings or delays, and it can be harder to stay informed about each other’s work. Several participants emphasized the importance of clear structure and expectations from the organization to make hybrid work function well. Physical presence at the office was often linked to more efficient collaboration and stronger inclusion in the team. These results show that hybrid work brings both opportunities and challenges. It allows flexibility and better balance between work and private life. At the same time, it can make it harder to build and maintain social relationships with colleagues, especially due to fewer informal meetings and spontaneous interactions.