Hybrid Work Leadership (HWL) is an applied and translational research lab of UNSW Business School. The COVID-19 environment forced rapid changes to the roles of workspaces in organisational life. Although many people have enjoyed the new benefits and flexibilities of remote working, others have struggled with working conditions and family situations that make remote work challenging.
As employee and industry expectations continue to change, hybrid and flexible work arrangements are increasingly becoming permanent fixtures for many roles. As organisations work to accomplish their goals, these opportunities bring new challenges to be managed, even as technology advances improve the effectiveness of remote work. Forming a core part of the future of work, we help organisations be more proactive and successful through managing hybrid and flexible work strategies that:
- Support and build on a constructive culture
- Continue to attract the best people
- Leverage the opportunity to rethink office space
- Maximise staff wellbeing, and minimise both mental and physical health issues
- Drive productivity across business goals/metrics
- Allow adaptations as technology and staff expectations evolve
Hybrid Work Leadership (HWL) has specific expertise on learning organisations and activities, human resource management, and employee work relationships. Together, these capabilities are considered crucial to developing and maintaining sustainable hybrid (and flexible) work arrangements ahead. Our research lab is based on both industry deliverables and research outputs with an emphasis on employee outcomes.
Our goals
Collaborate with industry partners and facilitate new industry relationships.
Undertake academic research to develop hybrid work arrangements that are sustainable for the coming years.
Engage with researchers across UNSW Business School to tap into their strong knowledge base and publish in top management journals on future work arrangements and achieve better outcomes for our industry partners.
Promote Hybrid Work Leadership as a leading knowledge centre for hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
Partner with us
Want to be a high-performing leader in a hybrid workplace? Partner with us for research and insights that will support your ongoing strategies.
Contact us: Andrew Dhaenens or Karin Sanders
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As COVID-19 forced many organisations to move toward new ways of working, a remote working model for much of its workforce. UNSW Business School’s Hybrid Work Leadership (HWL) research lab first was initially founded with a partnershiped with Frasers Property in 2021 to provide support with research and insights that haves positioned them as a thought-leader in the space, keeping their employees engaged and culture robust. Since this founding inaugural project, we have been very active in helping organisations manage their hybrid and flexible work arrangements through leading workshops, consultations, and executive presentations. for various organisations.
External Contributors
- Associate Professor Xiaobei Li, Shanghai Business School, Shanghai, China
- Associate Professor Sue Williamson, UNSW Canberra, Australia
- Dr Huadong Yang, University of Liverpool Management School, UK
- Professor Jennie Sumelius, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
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Our Hybrid Work Leadership research lab supports several ongoing projects in response to changes in employee expectations and advances in technology via multiple activities:
- Assisting, designing, and managing surveys
- Reviewing the best of current research across a broad range of sources
- Preparing reports with detailed statistical analysis of survey results
- Facilitating workshops with senior leaders on implications and development of new approaches
From a research perspective, our projects provide valuable opportunities to collect rich longitudinal data on the success of hybrid work challenges via learning and employee outcomes for top-tier publications in outlets.
In the medium term, our research lab is working to support organisations in achieving their targets and engaging partners through other projects with sustainable hybrid work solutions. Since work arrangements are an important and timely challenge for many organisations, HWL remains eager to showcase our work with other organisations, policymakers, and international agencies. As we grow into a research hub, we are looking for new partners who share our goals in creating better workplaces.
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Our work has been featured across many popular outlets (print, radio, and television) across Australia including ABC Radio, Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News, 2GB, Qantas Magazine, Canberra Times, HRM Magazine, 2CC Talking Canberra, and The New Daily.
2024
- Can daily work commutes last over the long haul? by Ash Cant. The New Daily. 26 April 2024.
- Is it too expensive to travel to work? Kace O’Neill. HR Leader. 23 April 2024.
- With cost of living on the rise, can you afford to travel to work? featuring Andrew Dhaenens & Evgenia Dechter. BusinessThink. 21 April 2024.
- Can you afford to travel to work? by Katie Miller. UNSW Newsroom. 18 April 2024.
- 4 strategic ways HR can use AI at work by Alex Christian. HRM Online. 25 January 2024.
- Mastering organisational change: Three proven strategies for success featuring Andrew Dhaenens & Bradley Hastings. BusinessThink. 31 October 2024.
- Automated innovation (cover story) by Alex Christian. HRM Magazine. December/January 2024 (102: p. 14-18).
2023
- Four ways to help hybrid workers boost productivity featuring Karin Sanders & Andrew Dhaenens.11 October 2023. BusinessThink.
- Today’s workforce has diverse needs. Hybrid work can adapt to them by Brianna Boecker. Women’s Agenda. 19 September 2023.
- UNSW Business Insight Institute Launch & Showcase: “Redesigning Work for a Hybrid Workforce.” 13 September 2023.
- Your top three questions about hybrid work answered featuring Bradley Hastings, Christian-Criado-Perez, Karin Sanders, & Andrew Dhaenens. BusinessThink. 28 August 2023.
- Four HR trends to future-proof your career as a human resource professional featuring Andrew Dhaenens. UNSW Online. 24 August 2023.
- ‘Fully focused’: Why this executive likes to walk and talk by Euan Black. Australian Financial Review. 23 August 2023.
- Sanders, K., Dhaenens, A. J. & Li, X. The fear of losing informal learning: A time versus a relationship argument. “Relational Aspects of Work from Home: Embracing Opportunities and Navigating Challenges.” Showcase symposium at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 2023, Boston, MA, United States.
- Sanders, K. & Dhaenens, A. J. Hybrid Work Arrangements (Caucus). 2023 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 2023, Boston, MA, United States.
- ·Sanders, K., Dhaenens, A. J., & Li, X. Influence of Perceived Human Resource Strength on the Work Arrangement and Employee Outcomes Link. “Alternative Work Arrangements during COVID-19 and Employee Wellbeing: An HR Process Approach.” Showcase symposium at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 2023, Boston, MA, United States.
- How to make hybrid work, work by Karin Sanders & Andrew Dhaenens. Lawyers Weekly. 1 June 2023.
- Business AI: The game-changer in predicting and enhancing employee retention featuring Andrew Dhaenens, Karin Sanders, & Mary-Anne Williams. BusinessThink. 16 May 2023.
- The Business of Work: The work of making hybrid work, work (Episode 1). AGSM’s Business of Leadership Podcast. 30 January 2023.
2022
- How to dial down end-of-year overwhelm by Karen Fitall. House of Wellness. 16 December 2022.
- How to overcome end-of year “burnout” (Korean website) by Soojeong Hong. Hanho Korean Daily. 15 December 2022.
- Research shows many employees feel pressure to be available to work during leave by Millie Costigan. Australian Community Media (syndicated): Canberra Times, The Standard; The Leader; Illawarra Mercury; Western Advocate; Canowindra News; Mandurah Mail; The Senior; Whyalla News; Bega District News; Bussellton-Dunsborough Mail; Maitland Mercury; Lismore City News. 14 December 2022.
- What is holiday burnout, and how can we avoid it? by Naomii Seah. SchoolNews New Zealand. 13 December 2022.
- Is it normal to be super stressed at work before the holidays? featuring Karin Sanders & Andrew Dhaenens. BusinessThink. 11 December 2022.
- Burnout over Christmas: How to cope as 2022 ends by Ash Cant. The New Daily. 11 December 2022.
- Is it normal to be super stressed at work before the holidays? by Kate Bettes. UNSW Newsroom. 8 December 2022.
- How to handle getting two job offers by Jonathan Rivett. Work Therapy. Sydney Morning Herald. 14 October 2022.
- Sanders, K. & Dhaenens, A.J. Hybrid Work Arrangements (Caucus). 2022 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 2022, Seattle, WA, United States.
- 5 tips to help build stronger hybrid leaders by Lachlan Haycock. HRM Online. 1 June 2022.
- Managing the micromanager in a new world of hybrid work by Craig Donaldson. UNSW Newsroom. 3 May 2022.
- How should leaders manage hybrid working relationships? featuring Karin Sanders, Andrew Dhaenens, & Patrick Sharry. BusinessThink. 29 March 2022.
- Fraser's Property: The “Future of Work” Opportunity. Qantas Magazine. 1 March 2022 (p. 147).
Our team
Senior Deputy Dean (Research & Enterprise)
Founder & Research Director
Adjunct Associate Professor & AGSM Fellow Member
p.sharry@agsm.edu.au
