The new challenges of hybrid working (part office, part home)

Faculty of Law, University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania

^* Corresponding author email: raluca.dimitriu@drept.ase.ro

Abstract

Although not expressly regulated hybrid work is a reality that cannot be fully encapsulated in the concept of telework. It has several advantages: it allows employees to freely choose where they work, while not losing contact with colleagues. For companies, hybrid working allows a reduction in utility costs and a downsizing of office space, while still being able to benefit from the direct presence of workers. Therefore, hybrid work is the expression of a compromise, which can indeed lead to work-life reconciliation, but it can also have a number of disadvantages. The latter mainly come from the lack of concern of the Romanian legislator for the category of workers who combine remote work with in-office work. The paper describes hybrid work from a legal point of view – at the intersection between willingness and reluctance.