How to Find the Right Hybrid Work Schedule

Learn approaches for building effective weekly schedules

Glenn Setliff at his desk.
Glenn Setliff splits his work week between home and his on-campus office in the Pearson Building. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

When the pandemic began, Glenn Setliff wasn’t excited about working from home. He liked his sunny Pearson Building office, where everything he needed was at his fingertips. Now working from his Burlington home two days a week, his sentiments have changed.

“I’m more productive at home than I was at the office,” said Setliff, Duke University School of Nursing assistant dean for Information Technology. “I think a lot of other people found that out, too.”

In the post-pandemic work landscape, a hybrid work arrangement has become a popular option for certain roles. A survey by the McKinsey & Company business consulting firm shows that of the 58 percent of American workers with the option to work remotely at least once per week, 87 percent do.

While a hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, sticking to a routine schedule can be a recipe for success, according to Fuqua School of Business Associate Professor of Marketing Jordan Etkin.

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“It’s probably better for most people, on a longer-term basis, to have a plan for being in the office on these days and home on these days,” Etkin said. “It helps manage any stress that comes with deciding where to work.”

With schedules as varied as roles, staff and faculty share strategies for building a hybrid routine.

Jump In on Monday

A 2022 study of keycard data by Kastle, a national building security firm, shows that Mondays and Fridays – due to their proximity to the weekend – are the most popular remote workdays.

For Duke Learning & Organization Development (L&OD) Associate Director Joy Birmingham, who works mostly remote but comes to campus for meetings and to lead training sessions, Mondays are her first choice for
on-site work.

“I’ve heard many people in my classes say Mondays or Fridays make good, productive bookends to their weeks,” Birmingham said.

Professor of Pathology Laura Hale.

Stay Plugged In

Professor of Pathology Laura Hale fits her schedule around on-site teaching, lab and clinical work. Most Tuesdays and Thursdays she’s at home reviewing literature, working on proposals and analyzing data.

While many of her colleagues are on campus midweek, Hale said her team’s embrace of Zoom through weekly virtual catch-up meetings keeps everyone connected and on the same page.

“I never felt out of touch with my colleagues,” Hale said. “Working remotely, we’ve done a good job staying connected.”

Focused Finish on Friday

After spending Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with colleagues on campus, the School of Nursing’s Setliff reserves Thursdays and Fridays for home to write, edit and plan.

“In the office, there’s not a lot of time for strategic thinking,” Setliff said. “We all have to plan our work and think how we want to operationalize something.”

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