TECHNOLOGY FRUSTRATING HYBRID WORKERS

 

Remote and hybrid working have accelerated rapidly 

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The extent to which employers allow or even encourage hybrid working looks likely to remain one of the key workplace issues for some time to come. To judge from the occupancy levels at station car parks in the U.K.’s commuter towns, it seems that employers have had some success in persuading people to return to their offices, for at least a part of the week. Yet hold-outs persist. Last month it was reported that staff at some offices of the Office for National Statistics were refusing to comply with an instruction that they spend two days a week in their offices. And it appears that many employees are still so committed to flexible working practices that they will consider changing jobs over it.

This does not mean that employers wanting to retain their staff should just bow to the pressure and allow workers to perform their roles however they see fit. Earlier this year, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which promotes best practice for the U.K.’s human resources professionals, published guidance on how to introduce flexible or hybrid working practices. Its key steps to planning successful hybrid work include:

Agreeing an overall strategic position on hybrid (and broader flexible) working for the organization and development of a policy and supporting guidance reflecting the strategy.

Defining hybrid working considering the specific organizational context. This might include several different forms of hybrid working even within one organization, depending on role requirements.

Provision of training and ongoing development activity for people managers to support successful hybrid management and leadership.

Having effective approaches for potential challenges, such as technology, employee wellbeing, inclusion and facilities.

It is interesting that, given that the pandemic also accelerated the digitalization of business, one of the issues often cited as a hurdle to changing working practices for both individuals and their employers is technology — or, rather, lack of the right equipment and software.

This situation is highlighted in a report out this week from the office equipment maker Ricoh. The study says that just 30% of European employees say they have all the necessary technology in order to collaborate seamlessly with colleagues. Moreover, nearly a quarter of business decision makers questioned acknowledge that their collaboration technology does not meet industry standards.