- March 8, 2022
- Posted by: NorgayHR
- Category: Uncategorized
The hybrid work model is here to stay. Yet how do you strike the right balance between home and office-based working?
As Atlassian research shows, Australians are pining for their workplace more than their overseas peers.
With 77% missing office energy – against 50% internationally – we risk losing the innovation and creativity inspired by the physical workspace.
The solution? Take care of the essentials, and your hybrid work model will thrive.
1. Create interactive workspaces
Rather than giving up the bricks and mortar office altogether, the challenge is to use it more selectively, and more effectively.
As the Australian Institute for Company Directors (AICD) reports, surveyed employees say remote work can make it easier to focus on ‘deep concentration’ tasks. Without the distraction of the office, they can be more productive.
However, they still want face-to-face connection with colleagues, recognising the stimulation and creativity it offers. This is precisely what the pandemic stole from us.
Tip: Set timetables giving workers maximum interaction when they are in the office. Reconsider the way you use physical spaces, to encourage collaboration and teamwork.
2. Get your software right
According to the AICD, it’s important to tailor your software platform to suit workers across the generations.
Ensure Millennials have access to phone apps, and baby boomers can log in to a web browser.
Collaboration platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Slack are now part of the way we do business, so make sure everyone knows how to use them.
Tip: Don’t get carried away with fancy software. Keep it simple, focused and easy for workers to use and communicate.
3. Look for two-way flexibility
Employees love the flexibility of remote work. It gives them more control over their working day, allowing them to plan work tasks around family commitments.
Yet flexibility cuts two ways, as AICD points out. If you allow your worker to pick up their children from school, they could return the favour by attending a 7pm Teams meet – when necessary – or the occasional early morning catch-up.
Tip: Have clear conversations about what you are prepared to allow, and what you expect in return. Set work parameters accordingly.
4. Nurture your company culture
Work culture suffered enormously during pandemic lockdowns. That’s why it’s critical to embed a healthy culture in your hybrid model going forward, as Forbes reports.
-Shared purpose. Get everyone on the same page. Keep everyone in the loop with clear communications. Set out big-picture company vision and individual work goals.
-Accountability. Get the balance right. Be supportive and empathetic to employee needs, but also make sure every worker is accountable for completing work tasks and following company rules.
-Accessibility. Leaders should be as visible and accessible remotely as they are in the office. Check in with remote team members on a regular basis, and make sure no-one gets left behind.
Tip: Ask for help when you need it!
Our HR experts are also happy to assist. Call us to find out how.
