Superfast Business Wales Adviser John Mills outlines how hybrid working can make your business more agile and attractive to employees
Hybrid working has become the new normal for many in the post-pandemic business world and has created new employee expectations. Although not a new concept, the hybrid work system is a form of flexible working where employees work both remotely (usually from home) and in an office or fixed place of work. This a cultural change which actively encourages both flexibility and high performance across a workforce and many businesses are now considering what this means for them in real terms, and what steps will need to be taken for these new ways of working to be adopted, and also be effective.
Indeed, businesses who do not offer such flexible forms of working may even risk increased staff turnover and an inability to attract future employees. Conversely, the possible benefits to the business include savings on office space, much higher levels of employee job satisfaction, reduced absence rates and increased productivity.
How to successfully switch to hybrid working
In a continuously competitive business world, making that transition to hybrid working needs to be managed successfully. Here are some initial steps that need to be considered to achieve that success:
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Provide employees with some flexibility in deciding their own hybrid working practices, obviously within guidelines or ‘rules of engagement’. The emphasis should be to provide the work-life balance that employees require to maximise their effectiveness.
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Give employees an equal right to work either remotely or in the office, not influenced by the preferred work practices of managers.
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Change focus to goals, outcomes, and timeliness of work, rather than how, when, or where work assigned was completed.
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Ensure you have the necessary IT infrastructure (including both capability and security), and also the correct expertise to support remote working.
How to get started with hybrid working
As businesses begin accepting hybrid working, the majority are still experimenting with the different possibilities and frameworks, but whatever your business situation, you MUST form an initial, all-encompassing plan for adoption of what is an evolutionary step in your business. This should include:
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Development of a policy and supporting guidance for employees on hybrid working.
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Setting out business role requirements for hybrid working. i.e., Establish and communicate a plan for when employees will work from the office and when they will work from home.
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Provision of training and development to support role-based hybrid working.
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Planning for the business requirements of hybrid working for information technology, data protection, facilities, and remote employee mental and physical wellbeing.
Tips for hybrid working success
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Ensure effective communication channels are always maintained. Build in regular social connection opportunities and team building engagement.
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Ensure that employees and businesses give careful consideration to the contractual implications of hybrid working.
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Ensure ease of connectivity, employees need to be able to work seamlessly between home and the workplace, and between office-based employees and remote employees.
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Ensure equality of work experience between employees in the office and employees at home and build working relationships between hybrid team members.
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Amend and adapt performance management systems or processes to accommodate hybrid working environments.